Is donor love just a tactical means to an end? Is it a recognition that fundraising should be about relationships, not transactions? It can mean a lot of things. But today, I want to say it’s about recognition, respect and shared values. Recognition Not everyone is your potential donor. The people who do choose your […]
Five ways to steward potential donors before their first gift
By Carrie Rice, Project Donor Love #Donorlove is frequently focused on what happens after someone makes a donation, such as thanking donors and encouraging donor retention. In fact, everyone who interacts with your organization is a potential donor. Applying a few stewardship best practices with each person with whom you interact begins the relationship-building before […]
Are you doing email right?
Who remembers life without email? It’s easy to take for granted. But we have access to marvelous free or inexpensive tools that put email communications in every organization’s toolbox. The ease of use, and the proliferation of beautiful templates – ready made! – mean even someone with little experience can create beautiful emails. But are […]
Why is it so damned hard to say thank you?
We spend a lot of time thinking about how to raise more money. We labor over the appeal: the language, the images, the right ask. And then, too often, we treat the thank you as an afterthought. It’s really not that hard to write a good, emotional thank you letter. No harder than it is […]
Why data is the key to beautiful donor relationships
Think data is dull? Too often, data isn’t given the weight it deserves in our fundraising programs. Buy the cheapest donor management system. Give data entry to the intern. Just tell me the bottom line; I don’t have to understand how to run reports. That’s a serious mistake. Because in fundraising, data isn’t the opposite […]