Episode 5, the fourth installment in our series on segmenting and managing your donors, discusses the 3 pieces of infrastructure you’ll need to create internally to support your donor funnel and donor retention system.
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For each one of us involved in nonprofit fundraising, our ultimate goal for the coming year boils down to just one thing:
Raise more money.
The problem is, there are so many ways to go about pursing this goal, it often becomes completely overwhelming to decide which route to take.
This is especially true at the start of the year as we try to nail down our tasks for the next 12 months. What exactly should we do to raise more money? Which of the infinite number of tasks available will be the most effective?
I submit to you that there is, in fact, one single task that will raise more money for your organization this year. [Read more…]
I’m thrilled to announce the launch of the new podcast, The Smart Annual Giving Connection. Each episode will explore a common annual giving question or challenge and will often feature guest experts or in-the-trenches fundraisers who’ll share their wisdom and experience. Hope you enjoy our first episode!
Moves Management is a concept that sometimes feels out of reach for many small nonprofits. Yet it is a crucial element of a strong annual fundraising program. In this episode, we discuss what moves management actually is, why it is important, why it is often neglected and how small to mid-size nonprofits can get started implementing some basic moves management activities without becoming overwhelmed.
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Donor segmentation is an essential part of a healthy annual fundraising program and plays a key role in moves management. In this episode of the Smart Annual Giving Connection, we discuss why many nonprofits still pursue a one-size-fits-all approach rather than consciously and strategically managing their donors in small, logical groups. We explore the many different ways nonprofits might choose to segment their donors, how to prioritize segments, and share how your nonprofit can improve donor retention and loyalty through segmentation.
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Smart Annual Giving is thrilled to announce the launch of our first online course!
The Donor Management Blueprint is a 4-module, multi-media course that shows you how to create a simple, manageable, data-driven system to guide your donors on their journey from potential donor… to new donor… to committed partner… to major donor. You’ll strengthen your annual fundraising and improve donor retention.
This course is designed to help you…
Get the details of the 2018 Donor Management Course here!
There’s more to measuring your annual fundraising than how much money you raised. To get the full story, you’ve got to measure performance in terms of your donors as well.
Your donor data reveals critical information that you’ll need in order to improve your fundraising and make the most of the giving potential within your database.
It tells you which donors are responding to your outreach and illuminates how well your strategies and tactics are working.
Your donor data reveals your best, most valuable donors. [Read more…]
Segmenting your donors is the process of placing your donors in logical groups, tagging individuals in your database as a member of that group, and communicating with those segments in ways that speak to their connection with you and your mission.
I’ve written before about the importance of donor segmentation, and why it is well worth the effort. It is a critical step toward establishing a moves management program.
But while segmentation is simple in concept, it is a daunting task. It’s a task that requires a high level of activation energy as well as commitment to maintain.
What’s the key to making it happen? Keep it simple and consistent. [Read more…]
In my hometown, there is a popular locally owned gift shop. Instead of charging a fee to gift wrap purchases, the store asks their customers to donate a dollar or two to a specific charity.
For many years, one specific charity was the sole recipient of these funds (along with a tremendous amount of publicity).
When I went to this store to grab a birthday gift the other day, I was surprised to discover that a different charity was now the gift wrap money recipient. [Read more…]
In Part 3 of our series on targeting key donor segments we discuss if and how to approach key volunteers for financial support.
Sandy, a development manager for a mid-size, regional animal shelter wrote in with this dilemma:
“I suggested to our VP of Development that as a part of our fall campaign we write a special appeal to our numerous active volunteers who haven’t yet made a financial gift. He promptly shut the idea down since he felt we’d be devaluing their gifts of time. I strongly disagree and am wondering if other organizations have had success asking their volunteers for financial support.”
Many nonprofits are reluctant to ask for money from their program volunteers for this very reason. Organizations don’t want to appear greedy or offend their volunteer corps.
But your volunteers are your biggest advocates. More than anyone, they understand your work and the importance of your mission. They also understand that your organization depends on financial support to continue to operate. [Read more…]
We’ve all got them. Supporters who, for one reason or another, have slipped away.
Our lapsed donors, because they’ve already demonstrated they care about our mission, are clearly worthy of some significant effort and attention.
Yet many nonprofits do nothing more than mail the same letters and newsletters that everyone else gets, cross their fingers, and hope for the best.
If you attempt only one new thing for your annual fundraising this year, developing thoughtful, intentional ways to get your lapsed donors back will provide a great return on investment.
Follow these steps to get your lapsed donor re-engagement plan underway. [Read more…]