What is a lapsed donor? Yes, of course, a donor who hasn’t given in a while. But how do you define that period? How long do you consider a donor active? Experts tell us that after a first gift, you need to thank donors, report back on the impact of their gift and ask again […]
Straight talk about donor love
Is the idea of donor love just fluff? The answer depends on you. But first, let’s clear a few things up. Maybe it will make you more comfortable. Here’s what donor love isn’t: Donor love isn’t romantic Donor love isn’t exclusive Donor love isn’t extraneous This is love in the sense of philanthropy. That is, […]
Your donors want to know: will you still love me tomorrow?
Tell the truth: does your organization love them and leave them? I’ve noticed a few situations where gifts to large, national organizations – even memorial gifts, no less – have resulted in truly bad donor care. These are organizations that spend tremendous resources on acquisition and “awareness”. Like fancy television campaigns and a constant stream […]
The case of the disappearing donor
There I was. In my kitchen, minding my own business. And the envelope appeared. Oh, I’d seen its like before. Always brought me heartache. So if I knew what was good for me, I would have put that newsletter down and walked away. Guess I was looking for trouble. And there it was. See, […]
Advanced Donor Stewardship: How to Keep Your Donors Giving Year after Year
by Joe Garecht Stewardship is one of the most important components of the fundraising process. Prospecting, cultivation, and asking are certainly important… but in my experience, building a strong donor stewardship system should be your top priority if you want to strengthen your development program. For many fundraisers, this comes as a surprise. That’s because […]