Telling your organization’s STORY has never been more important! It’s up to you to grab attention, grab empathy, and grab heartfelt donor connection, sometimes in minutes! Want to know how? Watch now!
Category: Donor Engagement
CrowdFunding Success With Dazzling Stories
Dazzling Storytelling Means Crowdfunding Success
If you are looking for a successful example of crowdfunding using stellar storytelling, look no further than The Smithsonian’s campaign to “Save the Ruby Slippers!” The Smithsonian conducted this campaign to preserve Dorothy’s Red Shoes on Kickstarter in October 2016 and raised $300,000 in just a few days!!!
Of course, “Save the Ruby Slippers” is a great campaign because we can all relate to Dorothy’s shoes and what they mean to our childhood and our image of home. So what else can learn from The Smithsonian’s success?
What made this crowdfunding campaign a success?
- They told us what would be involved in the conservation.
- They told us why The Smithsonian needed us.
- They answered questions about where their funding comes from.
- They explained what was happening to the slippers.
- They showed pictures of how they would be preserved.
- They explained why it was important.
- They told us what goes into the process of conservation.
- They talked about the amount they needed and backed that goal up by explaining what was included in the budget and how much each item cost.
- They talked about their own history.
- They explained where the slippers would be displayed.
Did they stop when they reached their goal?
No!!
When the Smithsonian reached their $300,00 goal, they were ready to stretch the project. They announced they needed $85,000 to conserve and display the Scarecrow costume.
And, they thanked their donors. They thanked them for getting them to the goal and explained that the slippers would now be kept sparkling for future generations. They made sure that donors felt like team members who had accomplished a great success.
Why Donors Give More?
Why Do Donors Give More?
Ever wondered why some donors give more?
We did some sleuthing and found we can boost our fundraising with a little insight into our donor’s minds.
Fortunately for us, The Chronicle of Philanthropy published some great detective work from The Burk Donor Survey. This report gives us some very reliable information on why donors give or don’t give and how to inspire them to give more.
21,000 donors completed the Burk Donor Survey and a third of donors said that they could give more!!! Interested in knowing more?
DONORS ARE DOING RESEARCH
Your donors are researching what you are doing. Here is where they are finding their information:
• 54% look at your website.
• 42% consult an online charity watchdog.
• 27% search online for information about your group.
• 26% ask people they trust about your organization.
• 23% review news media reports about your group.
The research your donor’s conduct has a big impact on their decision to make a gift.
• 41% decide not to donate after seeing a charity’s website.
• 41% say a charity’s results determine whether they make a gift.
Donor Quotes
“I would prefer to give more to fewer causes where I can see the results.”
Donors want to make an impact!
“Non-profits would do better focusing on success stories … then by trying to make those of us who are considering donating feel privileged and guilty.”
Stories are important!
“I dislike being bombarded by donation requests.”
Be strategic in your appeals!
“A number of causes left me feeling personally unappreciated.”
Saying thank you is essential!
Giving MORE
So why do donors give more? Here are the two biggest reasons donors gave:
• 41% were impressed with the efforts of the nonprofit.
• 26% responded to a special request for support.
How can you inspire your donors to give more? Here are the top five answers:
• 22% would give more if the charity demonstrated an extraordinary need for support.
• 22% would give more if they saw reduced administrative and fundraising expenses.
• 21% would like you to stop sending unwanted gifts and trinkets.
• 19% would give more if the charity sent fewer solicitations.
• 15% would like more information on what gifts accomplish.
Remember,
31% of donors said they could have given more.
41% of donors under the age 35 said they could have given more.
Don’t leave this money on the table!
Every little effort –
your stories,
your website,
your donation page,
your thank you notes –
it all adds up and will pay off.(CLK for video)
Storytelling Success Steps
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/
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!
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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!