I love tips! They’re short, quick, and to-the-point. Here are some of my favorite fundraising tips.
1. Let donors choose when they hear from you. I call this “Donor Choice.” You have to have the infrastructure in place to make sure you can do this, but it’s worth it. On a survey or a reply card, let donors tell you that they only want to get an appeal during the holidays or just twice a year or whatever choices you want to give them. You’ll find that you have happier donors, lower fundraising costs, and higher response rates.
2. Add hand-written notes on Thank You letters. Anytime you have a Thank You letter going out to a donor you know, add a hand-written note. It doesn’t have to be long or formal – just sincere and personal. It lets the donor know you are paying attention and that you really appreciate their gift.
3. Make it easy for your donors to act. Always make it very clear to your donor what action they should take and give them an easy way to take that action. No matter if you’re contacting your donor in person, on the phone, through the mail or online, they should immediately understand what you’re asking for and how they can respond. Otherwise, they may be confused and take NO action. Be clear with every ask for money, volunteers, and in-kind donations.
These tips come from my book “Fundraising Buffet: 101 Practical Ideas to Increase Donations & Deepen Donor Satisfaction.” Get your copy for $29.95 at http://getfullyfunded.info/products.
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