Thoughts from the Group

How do you know that   your work  in donor relations is making a bottom-line fundraising impact?  One (sometimes loaded) word:  metrics. ...

Donor retention is often a neglected metric in fundraising, with many organizations focusing more on the volume of donations or the...

Bespoke engagement plans for top donors are one of the hottest topics in fundraising, and for good reason––the “one-size-fits-all”...

Giving Tuesday can be a whirlwind of support, particularly from new donors who resonate with your cause. But after the rush, it’s...

We just sent out our loyal donor milestone mailer this month. We honor the donors who have given to our organization for at least five...

At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, it’s hard to imagine a more powerful tool than a custom survey of your organization’s donor base. I...

The only thing constant is change . Greek philosophers have given the world much to ponder over a few thousand years, but this...

One of the more fascinating—and often truly baffling—aspects of the donor experience is what happens to our data after we make a gift....

As a major gift fundraiser turned donor relations professional, I’m often asked when is the “right time” to ask donors for a major gift....

First-time donors give for many reasons, and donor retention looks different for each donor behavior type. First-time gifts can come from...

Have formal donor recognition societies already had their day in the sun? Should we be eliminating or investing in them? That is the big...

Have you ever gotten so deep into a subject that you can’t recall what brought you there in the first place? The concept of...

I often say that the most important measure of any fundraising shop isn’t how much money you raise at your nonprofit, but rather how many...

According to Penelope Burk’s Donor Centered Fundraising, 93% of individual donors would definitely or probably give again the next time...

‘Tis the season for year-end appeals…and year end fa-la-la-la-cknowledgments! As we gear up for these incredibly important giving...

A donor just made a gift to support your organization, so what comes next? You may be asking yourself, “Now what happens? Should I ask...

Now that you’ve had a chance to dabble in some of the strategies shared in our previous series on behavior economics (catch up here →...