Retention

Donor fatigue is a slow burn. Whether it manifests itself through a dwindling regular contribution, a shift in finances, a loss of inspiration, event support or an unforeseen reason, a once-enthusiastic financial contributor may come to a point where they’re just not as interested as they used to be.

Nonprofits put a lot of time, energy and money into acquiring peer-to-peer event participants, so it's vital to retain them year-over-year. This podcast will examine the best tactics for peer-to-peer participant retention, which starts at each participant's initial event signup, to help grow your event as well as fundraising dollars raised.

Moving forward, organizations should steward new relationships virtually and bring moves management strategies into their digital fundraising programs.

For many fundraising professionals, there is an intense focus on the annual gift solicitation, which is tremendously valuable. But what is happening before the ask? And what are we doing after the ask? How are we acquiring new donors and how are we retaining them? That's where growth funnels come in.

Does this sound familiar? We’ve all been there. A purchase that seemed like a good idea at the time but with such terrible follow up, we’ve vowed never to shop or visit again. Here is the hard truth, unfortunately. Is this how our donors feel? Unsatisfied and regretting their gift to our organizations almost as soon as they make it?...

It’s important to remember though that just because it seems easy, you, as the nonprofit, will have to make it easy for the donor to keep on giving.

It’s amazing to me the wild stories nonprofit leaders and fundraisers make up in their heads about why donors are not giving. It’s like you’re trying to develop excuses not to go out and fundraise — and you’re a fundraiser!...

For New York City-based Smile Train, the largest cleft organization in the world, its year-end efforts last year presented challenges, yet valuable lessons learned that it will utilize as it moves forward. The COVID-19 pandemic halted its work around the world, but it soon found its voice, urging supporters that its work is still needed. Now, capitalizing on last year’s fundraising success is vital...

We thought events were the point and that the event’s success would drive our success. Doing our business that way means we have to acquire 75% of participants each year. That path means we don’t retain many donors. In effect, we are letting our prospective constituents use the community clubhouse for a party, but we’re not making sure they move into the community...

Currently, Kim Goldsmith-N'Diaye, director of development at Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders in the U.S., leads all of the fundraising at MSF, including mid-level gifts, major gifts, planned gifts, corporate gifts and foundation gifts. In an exclusive interview with NonProfit PRO, Goldsmith-N'Diaye shared more about MSF’s donor retention efforts, gave an overview of its communications strategy, explained why its monthly giving program is so critical and much more.