Whether you are looking to improve results on your direct response program or turn a downward spiral around, effective and affordable testing is your organization’s best friend. It can improve how you tell your stories and connect with donors—and can grow fundraising results exponentially.
Your own organizational story is one of the most important things about you: it defines and refines you, and it’s as up-close-and-personal as it gets.
It’s June already! Good grief! The year’s almost half over!!! For fundraisers you know what this means? It’s time to get ready for your all-important Fall Campaign. I’m sure you know that many, if not most nonprofit organizations receive 50-60% of their annual income during Q4.
We often hear clients use the words “Summer Slump,” a term they use to describe what can be a difficult time of year to fundraise successfully. With school out, people on vacation, and good weather, donors can be distracted, and supporting your organization’s cause may not always be top of mind. But summer doesn’t have to be a time when you’re barely meeting your budget.
If it’s been a while since Sally A. Sample sent you a financial gift, don’t assume she’s forgotten about you altogether.
Sally is what you call a lapsed donor, and the potentially quieter summer months ahead of us might be a good time to start figuring out how to get those lapsed donors back. Generally speaking, lapsed donors haven’t made a financial gift of any kind in more than 12 months.
As you approach the summer months, traditionally a season of reduced giving, get ahead of the curve and make sure your data is performing the way it should be.
Your mid-major donors responded very well at calendar year-end, as well as the first few months of 2018. But what should you do to keep them from cutting back during the very critical summer months?
The answer is to give them special treatment now, so they feel really appreciated and that they are a critical part of your ministry. Even though mid-major donors can be classified differently from organization to organization, they should all be treated in the same way. Your extra effort will keep your ministry “top of mind” as you move into the summer months and encourage them to continue giving.
In this issue of Donor Focus we will be considering why this is exactly the right time of year to be finalizing your summer fundraising strategies . . . while you still have time
Gone are the days when a successful growth strategy can rely solely on acquiring new donors through a single channel, like direct mail or radio or television. Now potential donors are consuming information multiple ways and your organization needs to be present in the places they spend their time.
Not too long ago, I saw a deeply touching Facebook post about a humanitarian crisis. It featured a heartbreaking story and what a certain organization was doing to help those in need. I immediately clicked the “Donate” button and made a gift. Within minutes I had a receipt in my inbox and then . . .
End of content
End of content
1717 Park Street, Suite 300 Naperville, IL, 60563
630.562.1321 | info@douglasshaw.com
Company
Services
Resources
