Donor Relationship Management
December 22, 2015 at 9:53 am
If you’re looking for a quick, easy, affordable and dynamic way to thank donors this holiday season, then check this out: Make and send a thank-you video. It’s super easy to shoot. Just use your smartphone. No fancy equipment or skill needed (isn’t that a relief?). With YouTube being one of the biggest social media…
December 18, 2015 at 11:09 am
The fact is all of us work extremely hard to cultivate, solicit and secure donors but have trouble retaining these donors, a large percentage of them “gone with the wind” each year. So, what do experts have to say about donor retention?...
December 18, 2015 at 10:36 am
I heard a client struggle today in trying to figure out her organization’s value proposition. “What is it that we do that makes interacting with us worthwhile, something people can’t do without?” Being something that people feel they can’t do without is a high bar, but attainable. But then I thought, if I were selling high-end sneakers, would my athlete buyer respond to the same value proposition as my fashion buyer? Sometimes yes, but sometimes no...
December 17, 2015 at 9:00 am
Like many of your donors, I hope, I have been actively doing some year-end giving. That included mailing gifts to 19 organizations that had responded to my article earlier this year, offering to make a donation to the organizations of the first 10 people who responded. (I just couldn’t stop at 10.) ...
December 16, 2015 at 10:09 am
This has been my first ‘year-end’ with Shift and it’s been … fun. Nothing like starting your business in the busiest time of the year—when the pressure is highest to deliver results, on time. But with the majority of the craziness behind me, I’ve been able to catch up on some of my favorite blogs,…
December 15, 2015 at 9:37 am
Recent data shows that "the pattern of retention for cash giving in the U.S. has worsened, with some organizations experiencing upwards of 70 percent attrition between the first and second gift." Your organization’s thank you letter is not the be-all, end-all to ending donor attrition. But it is an important first step in creating loyal, lifetime donors. Does yours have all 10 essentials?...
December 11, 2015 at 9:24 am
According to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project, first-time donor retention is a measly 19 percent. While repeat donor retention is much better at 63 percent, that still means one in three current donors don’t give again. Overall, the median donor retention rate is just 43 percent. It’s not a huge mystery as to why. Donors want…
December 11, 2015 at 9:18 am
Tagging Facebook users in your nonprofit’s posted photos can be a simple way to increase the exposure and visibility of your content. However, the user interface that governs Facebook can sometimes make it difficult for page managers to tag friends and fans–even if they are already engaged with your brand page. Here is a quick…
December 11, 2015 at 9:16 am
I don’t need to tell you that it’s a busy time of year. We have too many things to do and very little time to get it all done. We are all just running to keep up, so I thought I would have a little fun with my next topic and present 10 ways you can…
December 7, 2015 at 10:53 am
Fran was a major gifts officer (MGO) who had great relationships with his donors. Then, in October 2008, a disaster struck for a donor he greatly respected that left the donor unable to make his usual gift. Many MGOs might have given up on this donor and moved on. But Fran was adamant about not giving up this donor. In fact, Fran did the opposite...
