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Thoughts from the Group

Explore the DRG blog for fresh ideas on all things donor experience, leadership, team building, donor relations, and change management.

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Recognition and Engagement

3 Essentials for Successful Top Donor Engagement Plans

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

Fundraising

How to Get Your Naming Policies in Order--It's Not Boring, It's Necessary!

Okay, yes, we know. Naming infrastructure and gift acceptance policies sound about as exciting as watching paint dry. But here’s the...

Recognition and Engagement

Hot Takes: Donor Recognition Practices in the Modern Era

Of The 4 PIllars of Donor Relations , perhaps the fastest changing pillar is that of recognition. Even saying the word “recognition”...

The Donor Experience

Four Donor Experiences We’re Loving Right Now…and Why!

You’ve heard it before, and we’ll say it again: experiencing the impact of generosity is at the heart of the donor experience—and a key...

Recognition and Engagement

Recognition Societies : Build, Revamp, or Retire?

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

Donor Retention

Behavior-Based Donor Relations: Fad or Phenomenon?

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...

Acknowledgments

7 Communications to Send Your Donor After They Make a Gift

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...

The Donor Experience

Four Tips to Building Successful Donor Engagement Programs Your Major Gifts Team Will Love

Everything we do in donor relations adds value to our fundraising operation. Full stop. As a major gift fundraiser turned donor relations...

Donor Communications

3 Donor Behaviors to Recognize Right Now – and How!

One of our favorite aspects of the recently redesigned DRG website is the Free Resources section, featuring a revamped and expanded...

Recognition and Engagement

Is It Time to Sunset Your Recognition Societies?

By Jan McGuire (It’s so hard to say goodbye) Recognition societies have been long-time staples in our work in donor relations. But are...

Recognition and Engagement

4 Brilliant Remedies Your Struggling Event Needs Right Now

By Matthew Helmer It’s (almost) here – the light at the end of the tunnel for nonprofit event planners. For some, it’s the end of a long...

Recognition and Engagement

5 Ideas For Keeping Your Donors Engaged Throughout the Summer

Summer is around the corner, and this is the time of year most of us, including your donors, will carve out time to unplug and/or travel....

Nonprofit Leadership

12 Proven For-Profit Practices Every Nonprofit Should Embrace

Innovation is one of our core values at DRG. We love shaking things up and surprising and delighting donors with the unexpected. When...

Recognition and Engagement

7 Steps to Transform First-Time Donors Into Loyal Supporters

By Holly Kizer You get one chance to convert a first-time donor into a lifetime supporter. Think of it like a first date, you want to put...

Donor Communications

8 Alternatives to Honor Rolls Your Donors Will LOVE

By Colton Withers Why do so many nonprofit organizations still cling to donor honor rolls as a way to recognize donors for their giving?...

Stewardship and Reporting

8 Ways to Surprise & Delight the Donor Who Has Everything

By Holly Kizer Sailing the world, designer handbags, vacation homes—how can we show our major gift donors our appreciation when they...

Recognition and Engagement

14 Brilliant Ideas for Your Next Donor Event

One of the most significant shifts we experienced during the pandemic was in the event space. We were forced to step away from "the way...

Recognition and Engagement

The One Donor Relations Strategy You Need to Implement Right Now

There is a shift happening in donor relations, and we're here for it! In fact, we've been championing this approach for a few years now....

Recognition and Engagement

Step One: Special Events Change Management

Events can be incredibly rewarding and fruitful for our organization—if done well. And by “well,” we mean executed with strategy and...

Thoughts from the Group

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