Donor Relationship Management

A year or so ago, I joined 20 organizations with a monthly gift. And (sneaky me), I gave them a card that was going to expire a month later. I then tracked what organizations did in terms of “thank you” letters and actions to try to get me back...

Learn from others. Measure what matters. Start out right. Live out thankfulness. This old dog knows that it takes more than these four things to be a successful and fulfilled fundraiser, but this isn’t a bad place to begin for anyone new to the profession or looking to hit the reset button on his or her career in the nonprofit sector...

Just as many nonprofit organizations have one-size-fits-all fundraising appeals, they also tend to treat all their donors the same. “What’s wrong with that?” you say. “Are they supposed to give the big guys special treatment?” Well, yes—and no...

For the first time on record, the nonprofit that received the most in donations in the country is not what you typically think of as a nonprofit—and that has some in the nonprofit sector worried that the new model is upending traditional philanthropy. Giving accounts allow donors to get an immediate tax benefit when they…

A few weeks ago, NonProfit Pro shared an interesting NACHA case study on the long-term retention of those donors who give automatically through their bank account, also called EFT, Direct Debit, Direct Payment via ACH or automatic bank withdrawal...

A prompt, personal thank you is a beginning. Yet it won’t have lasting effect. You must go above and beyond the “donor receipt”—even if you know how to write a killer donor-centered "thank you" letter...

Turnkey deploys hundreds of thousands of emails each month on behalf of dozens of nonprofits. Email communication is cheap, and its effects are measureable. It is a great channel to nurture and deepen relationships with constituents on which nonprofits depend...

Relationships are a part of life. They are essential to fundraising, and they take time to develop and deepen. There are times when an organization is not quite ready for a major campaign. It may mean spending time refining their case...

One of the more persistent problems nonprofit fundraising professionals face is how to increase year-over-year results when it appears you’ve explored all avenues and tapped all opportunities. In these situations, savvy professionals should consider whether they have taken sufficient steps to establish themselves as a nexus for their organizations...

When people engage with brands on social media, it’s usually because they are looking to build a relationship or some kind of connection. Don’t miss this opportunity. An engaged social-media audience is priceless for your organization because these connections provide the potential for increased organic growth and recurring donations...