You work so hard to get those new donors so now what are you going to do to build the relationship and keep the love alive? Here are some great ideas for you right now!
Category: Stewardship
Thanking Your #GivingTuesday New Donors
Everyone agrees that #givingtuesday is a new donor goldmine but that gold will quickly disappear if you’re not instantly welcoming and thanking those wonderful peeps qui
WELCOME Those New Donors Now!
2017 #GivingTuesday was a huge success and now on to welcoming those new donors with a wonderful warm welcome plan. Here are the basics you need now to build that new donation into a beautiful ongoing relationships.
THE WHY OF WHY DONORS GIVE
Do you know why donors give to charities? do you know what would motivate donors to give to your organization right now? Here’s the answer to the why question, just in time for year-end success and your final month of annual appeals!
The Power of Year-End Segmentation
The Power of Segmentation for Year-End Success is Amazing!
Donor Segmentation for maximum fundraising results
First things first: What is segmentation?
Segmentation is the act of dividing your donors into groups based on specific criteria. It is critical that you are able to segment your donors. A donor database with CRM (customer relationship management) technology will help you do this.
So how should you segment your donors?
There are hundreds of ways you can segment your donors: by zip code, gift size, age, and even (if you’ve kept very careful data) what day of the week they have made a donation. Here are some of the most useful methods of donor segmentation.
AFFILIATION AND INTEREST
Segment on how your donors are affiliated based on your mission, organizational structure and community involvement. Which programs and causes is this donor interested in? This will tell you what to focus on in your appeal letter to get the best results.
ENTITY TYPE
What type of entity is this donor? This type of segmentation is critical in creating a strategic plan and forecasting so you can plan for gifts coming from individuals, corporations, government and foundations.
GIVING CHANNEL
How is your donor making their gift? You want to make sure you are offering your donors the opportunity to make a gift in the manner that is most convenient for them. Know when to use mail and when to use email or social media
GIVING LEVEL
Segmenting by the annual giving level will help you know what gift amount you should be suggesting to your donor. Make sure you are ethical and courteous but you must also be careful not to insult or disrespect the donor’s ability or capacity. Remember it is imperative not to ask for too much or too little
GIVING STATUS
Another important segment to look for is giving status. An appeal to a new donor should have a different focus and message than one to a lapsed donors. Retained donors can be segmented too – ones who have increased gifts, decreased gifts, or stayed the same.
Final thoughts
Segmentation gives you creative, intentional ways to engage your donors. It helps you craft your message in a way that your donor will find appealing and personalized. And we all know that the more your donor feels cared for and connected, the more likely they are to make another donation for your cause!
12 Year-End Fundraising Checklists
12 fundraising checklists that will take your year-end fundraising to huge heights so you’ll definitely want to review and check off each detail!
Blockbuster is all about bringing all the very best fundraising tips to one place where you can spend minutes a day, reviewing, refreshing and learning from the most excellent fundraising leaders globally available. Today’s Facebook LIVE presents 12 fundraising checklists that to be best you want to review and check off each detail! Save and watch in October so your plans are complete and completely super ready for fab 2017 success!
A WINNING NEW DONOR WELCOME KIT
Most new donors will never give again, 70% to be more specific! So how do you keep them and turn them into loyal advocates for your cause?
Follow these brilliant steps from the New Welcome Plan Save the Children has put together! It Works!
And put together a welcome plan now in time for those #GivingTuesday new donors you are going to acquire this year!
Segmentation Steps for Year-End Success
The only way to great year-end results is to go over your database carefully and segment your donors into specific groups in order to direct specific communications they really want to see, hear or read. You need to know how to reach them and segmentation is the answer!
Donor Segmentation for maximum fundraising results
First things first: What is segmentation?
Segmentation is the act of dividing your donors into groups based on specific criteria. It is critical that you are able to segment your donors. A donor database with CRM (customer relationship management) technology will help you do this.
So how should you segment your donors?
There are hundreds of ways you can segment your donors: by zip code, gift size, age, and even (if you’ve kept very careful data) what day of the week they have made a donation. Here are some of the most useful methods of donor segmentation.
AFFILIATION AND INTEREST
Segment on how your donors are affiliated based on your mission, organizational structure and community involvement. Which programs and causes is this donor interested in? This will tell you what to focus on in your appeal letter to get the best results.
ENTITY TYPE
What type of entity is this donor? This type of segmentation is critical in creating a strategic plan and forecasting so you can plan for gifts coming from individuals, corporations, government, and foundations.
GIVING CHANNEL
How is your donor making their gift? You want to make sure you are offering your donors the opportunity to make a gift in the manner that is most convenient for them. Know when to use mail and when to use email or social media.
GIVING LEVEL
Segmenting by the annual giving level will help you know what gift amount you should be suggesting to your donor. Make sure you are ethical and courteous but you must also be careful not to insult or disrespect the donor’s ability or capacity. Remember it is imperative not to ask for too much or too little.
GIVING STATUS
Another important segment to look for is giving status. An appeal to a new donor should have a different focus and message than one to a lapsed donors. Retained donors can be segmented too – ones who have increased gifts, decreased gifts, or stayed the same.
Final thoughts
Segmentation gives you creative, intentional ways to engage your donors. It helps you craft your message in a way that your donor will find appealing and personalized. And we all know that the more your donor feels cared for and connected, the more likely they are to make another donation for your cause!
4th Quarter Calls for Donor Retention & Upgrading
Retain and upgrade
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.
How to 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!
How to 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 develop 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!
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
Form 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.
Craft Awesome Annual Appeals With These Tips
As you are preparing now to craft your very best annual appeal possible, blockbuster reviews a ‘best-of-the-best’ appeal it received this summer from Oregon Humane Society. You won’t believe how perfect it is so, watch now and borrow some fabulous tips!
Keep Your New Donors With This New Donor Welcome Kit
As nonprofits, we know how many new donors and first time donors get away! We lose them folks, 70% never show up again! We need to welcome them with open arms immediately and turn them into interested, cared-for donors! Here are proven strategies and examples that work wonders!
What Does Stock Market Record High Mean to Your Donor?
WHY YOU NEED TO ACT and REACH-OUT TO DONORS NOW!
With tax talk ramping up in Washington and a record-setting stock market, 2017 could be a good time for your donors to assess their personal financial and philanthropic goals to minimize their tax bill and maximize their charitable impact. Here are a few things to consider for your philanthropy in the second half of the year:
• If proposals to change the 100 year-old charitable tax deduction are enacted, donors charitable gifts may be more tax advantageous this year than in the future.
• There can be tax advantages to gifting appreciated securities and, more importantly, more funds available to donate to charity.
•many donors give impulsively throughout the year but now possibly could have the greatest charitable impact, to make fewer, larger gifts with causes that touch their heart.