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5 Essential Facts to Learn About Your Event Attendees

What do you know about your event attendees? Community events are an essential component of fundraising success. They bring your supporters together, spread valuable information about the good work your organization does on a daily basis, and give you the chance to interact with key donors face-to-face. While events tend to come with inevitable coordination […]

Filed Under: Blog, Fundraising events Tagged With: donor relationships, fundraising events

Is your annual report a waste of a great opportunity?

It’s a serious question: what purpose does your annual report serve? What outcomes are you looking for? Too many organizations see an annual report as part requirement and part brochure. But if yours is meant to be a sales piece, is it selling? How do you know? And if reporting is a legal requirement, couldn’t […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: annual report, donor relationships, gratitude

How to create a donor communications calendar

This post has been updated. You can find the most recent version here. How can you create a donor communications calendar? A communications calendar is a combination of messaging and timing. You can create the most amazing appeal letter, but if it’s the only time your donors hear from you this year, you aren’t communicating […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: communications planning, donor communications, donor relationships

I don’t owe you: why I’m not giving back

“I don’t owe you.” That’s what I thought as I opened the envelope. Makes me sound awful, doesn’t it? But let me explain. When you ask people to “give back” by making a gift to your organization, you’re setting up a relationship based on obligation. And transaction. Think carefully about whether that’s really what you […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor relationships, generosity, giving

How to reach donors with a personal touch

I’ve said it before. Good fundraising is always one-to-one. That’s true even if you’re communicating with thousands. It should always feel one-to-one. That should always be your aim, even if it takes a little more effort. But when is the last time you really made a personal effort? OK, my major gifts readers… I know […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor care, donor relationships, personal fundraising

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