Category: Cultivation

Cultivating Major Donor Trust

CULTIVATING MAJOR DONOR TRUST

“Building Donor Trust has never been more important to non-profits than it is today!                                                                                  

What are best tips to build and maintain donor trust because we  all know the trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair.”

How do you build and cultivate trust with major donors?

Trust is imperative in this relationship. Major donors are wealthy individuals and they can spot someone wanting money from them a mile away. You want major gift donors to know you value your relationship with them because of who they are, not because of the number of zeros in their bank account.

In their book, Rainmaking: The Fundraiser’s Guide to Landing Big Gifts, Roy Jones and Andrew Olsen suggest these tips to building trust:

Practice active listening

This means that you really pay attention when your donor is talking, you ensure that you understand what they are saying, and you remember what was said. While your donor is speaking you should maintain eye contact, nod, voice your understanding, and provide feedback that lets your donor know that you heard and appreciated what they were saying.

Serve at every opportunity

Immerse yourself in the relationship with your major donor. Be proactive and take care of their needs and wants before they have to ask. Make sure you are always being absolutely honest and transparent.

Hear. Understand. Empathize.

Don’t just listen to your donor talk. Make sure you understand them. If you don’t ask questions or do some research so that you can understand. And empathize with what they are sharing with you.

Focus on the donor

It is all about the DONOR, not about YOU. You are there to help your donor accomplish great things with their wealth.

Quick solutions

If something goes wrong, notify your major donor immediately and provide solution options. The faster you get in touch and solve the problem, the more your donors will trust and respect you and your organization.

Build lasting wonderful relationships with your donors.

Call and check in and watch your retention grow!

Here are more great tips: https://callhub.io/improve-donor-stewardship/

Retention is the 2017 Game Plan


Keep Your Donors!

Did you know that 8 out of 10 of your New Donors will not give another gift?

There is a lot of good work you can do now to reverse a drooping retention rate!

And here’s more Retention Info: https://bloomerang.co/blog/new-study-shows-donor-retention-rates-are-in-decline/

Re-Energize Donor Retention Rate in 2017

Retention rates have been down for non-profits since 2008 and are not improving at 46%.

8 out of 10 New Donors now only give one gift and are gone!

Here are strategies and tactics to reverse that retention rate now!

How to Make the Major Gift ASK

How do you make your donor “Asks”? Does it unnerve you or are you ready to go with enthusiasm, energy, and confidence?

I just finished reading ASKING by Jerold Panas and loved it and share some of his Asking advice with you in this video.

Have great questions for 25% of Ask appointment and 75% designated for Listening! 🙂

Donor Journey to Increased Retention Rate and Lifetime Loyalty

The Donor Journey begins with that first donation!

Did you know that Individual donors account for 72% of all giving? Just think of how much more you could raise if you could retain and upgrade all of your donors. The sky is the limit! It is essential that you take the necessary steps to not only keep your donors but to encourage them to give more.

Retain Your Donors

Your current donors are your low-hanging fruit, your easiest targets. You already know they are invested in your cause and they care about your mission. However, if you don’t handle them correctly, they could very easily take their donations elsewhere. Here’s how to keep them:

  • APPRECIATE THEM!
  • Organize a call unit to make phone calls to thank them for their past donations. Mention how grateful your organization is for their support in each appeal letter. Make sure they feel special and valued.
  • TELL THEM HOW THEY MADE A DIFFERENCE.
  • What did you do with the last gift your donor sent you? Did it pay for 10 children to attend camp? Buy food for 20 families? Sharing the tremendous impact that your donor made on the lives of others will not only make them feel good about their last gift, it will make them eager to give again!
  • Click For Detailed Retention Steps from Capital Business Solutions!

UPGRADE YOUR DONORS

A sure way to raise more money for your cause without even having to find more donors is to get your current donors to give more. Some donors tend to send the same check year after year, while others may jump around based on their personal situation. Here are a few ideas for getting them to upgrade:

  • SUGGESTED GIVING LEVELS
  • How will your donor ever know that you could really use $150 instead of the $100 they’ve been sending every year? Simply suggesting a higher gift amount is sure to get your donor to at least consider upgrading. As long as it is done respectfully and thoughtfully, you’ll never offend a donor by suggesting a higher gift amount.
  • USE SPECIFIC DATA
  • Use specific numbers, goals, and costs when suggesting a donor increase their gift. Tell them why you need it and what it will do. Justify your ask.
  • MOVES MANAGEMENT
  • The most important thing you can do to upgrade your donors is developing a good moves management program. Look through your donor data and chart out who you plan to upgrade and how you plan to get there. Then, of course, make sure you follow your plan!
  • Click here for Detailed How-to Upgrade Information  from Bloomerang!

  • How to Handle Downgrades

    Some donors are going to downgrade. That’s life. Maybe they were hit with unexpected bills, a job change, or felt like they needed to spend more of their donation dollars somewhere else. Regarding these donors with care and respect is vital. Don’t lose these donors!

  • RECOGNITION 
  • Develop a recognition society based on longevity of giving. This will make your donors realize that they are still important to you. They’ll want to keep on giving to stay in the “club.”
  • COMMUNICATION
  • Keep the lines of communication open. Make sure they are still receiving information about your programs and the impact of their donation. You could even explore other methods of giving from in-kind gifts to planned giving.
  • Click here for Detailed Help With Managing Donor Downgrades from Sharpe Group!

 

 

 

Be Ready With A Passionate Elevator Pitch

As Development peeps, we must make it a resolution to get out and meet with community thought leaders, the key mover and shakers in our region, with a well-prepared short passionate ‘who we are’ presentation!

They may never be your donor, they may never be your board member, but you do want them to know of the good you are doing now! Leave them with a good story, a good impression, and a desire to know more!

How One Donor Thank You Note Raised $450,000


Would you believe that a single thank you note to a group of donors brought in an extra $450,000 to FOOD FOR THE POOR?

Watch now and see how Executive Director, Angel Aloma, did it!

Blockbuster Fundraising offers this as the first great 2017 Fundraising Tip for YOU! Watch this video and then read 20 QUESTIONS, THE DONOR COMMUNICATIONS TEST for more great tips and “AHA” moments!

http://www.aherncomm.com/20-questions-free-downloadable-test-re-best-practices-donor-communications/

Winning Back Lapsed Donors in Time for Year-End

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys1IAT5YGO4

One more positive thing we can do now! Print out your lapsed donor list, any donor who has yet to give this year in 2016, and get ready for action!

Action steps and letter (or call script) included! Also a couple great links to more information!

Loving lapsed donors back into the fold | Simple, brilliant and oh so swipe-able!

4 Steps for Fabulous Year-End Emails

Make your December Emails count big with these 4 tips!

Make them Personal! Inspire you donors! Integrate these emails with your year-end theme. Laser focus on your year-end ask!

Lots more for your email year-end success!

A Major Donor’s True Confession


Wondering if your year-end appeals are going to possibly get trashed? Yikes! Watch and learn from a major donor what gets them trashed in his home and office! Just in time for your last few year-end communications!