Donor Relationship Management

Pancake Pantry is known for great food and great service—and long lines. Years ago, it was the go-to place for business meetings, and it was not uncommon to see the governor, the mayor and congressmen there. After enduring those long lines, I had a goal...

Consumers today have similar expectations of all brands they engage with—commercial or nonprofit. And they expect brands to handle requests in close to real-time. Now, if you are saying, "Gosh, I don’t have this problem," think again...

Major benefactors are expecting more than they ever have before. They know, in our age of information and technology, just how capable nonprofits are of giving them what they really want. And, if we really break it down, there are three things that today’s mega-givers want—and are going to get—whether it’s from you or from another organization...

Here's the problem in most major-gift fundraising. We want the donor to give, and we spend a lot of time figuring out how to motivate his or her giving. But we don’t spend enough time describing the need. And when we do describe it, it is not compelling. When you look at the presentation you are currently working on for your donor, ask yourself these four questions...

Many of you are immersed in your year-end appeals, but if you think you can rest easy once the letters have gone out, think again. Your work has just begun. In fact, what comes next is even more important, especially if you want to to keep your donors for a long time. I write a…

To raise more money, listen carefully to your prospects and donors. They’ll give you vital insights about their philanthropic interests and ability to give. Furthermore, they’ll give you clues about how to most effectively present to them. Tom Hopkins, the sales guru and author of "Low Profile Selling," suggests that by adapting your presentation style according…

You may be asking, “Why do my donors keep giving the same amount year over year? Are they somehow stuck?" What’s happened is you've essentially trained these donors to give that amount year after year. If you have a caseload full of lower-end major gifts from donors like these, I want you to consider the following...

As charities increasingly deal with donors who expect more control over how their money is spent, a large humanitarian relief organization has developed a new online tool to give supporters a bigger say. Direct Relief, which concentrates on medical aid for emergencies and poverty-stricken regions, will begin testing a new online donor site next week,…

While knowing facts and statistics is interesting, actually doing something with that knowledge can be revolutionary—or at least a start to improving our fundraising efforts. As you consider the final eight weeks of 2016, here are some facts that can give you a boost as you make your final efforts to meet your goals for the year...

To successfully retain donors, nonprofits need to invest time into cultivating and maintaining long-lasting relationships from the first donation onward. With a concrete donor-stewardship plan in place, donors will feel more valued and invested in your nonprofit. While you may understand the importance of donor stewardship, it’s not always clear how to take the best…