I had the opportunity to read Greg Warner’s book, Engagement Fundraising, a few weeks ago. The book is pitched toward those cultivating major gift and legacy donors. And its promise is “How to raise more money for less in the 21st century.” So what’s it about? The Pareto principle tells us most of the money […]
Top 10 #donorlove ideas for your Year End Campaign
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… In theory. Would your donor feel that way? John Lepp (of Agents of Good fame) and I sat down to give you a tried and tested YEAR END checklist you can use as you sit down to craft the most meaningful appeal of the year. Some context […]
What does donor love really mean?
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 […]
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 […]