Donor Participation Project

Attention fundraisers: We're at a crossroads. High turnover rates and donor attrition are shaking our profession. But together, we can change the tide. Participate in our short survey and help us identify solutions. Your experience is invaluable: https://buff.ly/46O5LHW #FundraisingInnovation #NonprofitChallenges

Raising Funds by Reaching Out: How to Connect with Donors of Color Nonprofit organizations often struggle to engage donors of color and raise funds from minority communities. According to fundraising expert Patrick Callihan, the key is intentional outreach. Speaking on a recent podcast, Callihan shared several tips for connecting with and securing gifts from donors of color. First, don’t wait for perfect data. Even if you lack information on the demographics of your donor base, start building relationships now. Review your donor lists and portfolios for potential donors of color, then reach out to schedule meetings. Ask open-ended questions to learn more about their experiences and priorities. These genuine conversations can uncover opportunities for meaningful engagement and partnerships. Second, focus on the issues that matter to them. For many donors of color, supporting educational and economic opportunities for underserved communities is a top priority. Develop funding programs and scholarships that address diversity, equity, and inclusion. Explain how their gifts can make a direct impact. Third, recognize and promote their achievements. Feature donors of color in marketing materials, social media spotlights and donor honor rolls. Celebrate their accomplishments and thank them for their support. This visibility and appreciation fosters a sense of belonging that compels future giving. Fourth, commit to an integrated approach. While hosting events targeted at minority communities, also make diversity and inclusion priorities across all fundraising programs. This demonstrates your commitment to equity and justice in a holistic, authentic way. Finally, go above and beyond to show appreciation for major gifts. For many minority donors, philanthropy is a new tradition they are pioneering. Recognize this commitment through naming opportunities, special events and more. Your gratitude and the legacy of their gift will inspire continued generosity. By following these principles of outreach, prioritizing issues that matter, promoting visibility and committing to integrated, holistic efforts, nonprofits can successfully raise funds from donors of color. The key is taking that first step to start building relationships based on trust, understanding and shared purpose. With time and dedication, these connections blossom into partnerships that advance your mission through new funding and new voices. The opportunity is there; we simply need to reach out.

Why Fundraisers Should Demand More From Their Technology Partners Fundraisers often view technology as a tool for efficiency, not strategy. But technology partners can and should be strategic partners that help achieve key fundraising goals. According to Matthew Lambert, Vice President for University Advancement at William & Mary. “When you have a culture focused on doing the right things, you’re not trying to replace it with technology, you’re trying to enhance, support and strengthen it.” Rather than passively accepting what vendors offer, fundraisers should demand solutions tailored to their needs. As Dan Frezza, Chief Advancement Officer at the College of Charleston, said, “When considering new partnerships, this principle is always at the forefront of my mind.” When evaluating new technologies, consider not just the features and price but how the tool can support building trust and engagement with donors. Some of the most successful technology partnerships start by identifying a human need, not a software capability. William & Mary, for example, built a custom volunteer management system with Give Campus to efficiently scale their volunteer program in a way that “allows us to maintain the culture,” according to Frezza. Look for vendors willing to co-create and evolve their product to suit your priorities. As entrepreneur Adam Martel said, “A good partnership is one where the vendor evolves with you.” Rather than taking an “either-or” view that pits human engagement against technology, pursue an “and-and” partnership. Technology should enhance human relationships and strategy, not replace them. When you find the right partner, technology can help broaden your reach in a personalized, empathetic way. The key is choosing technologies and partners focused on building trust and participation over the long run. As Lambert argues, the future of fundraising depends on fostering “a long-term, broad-based group of donors who feel they have a vested interest in our organizations.” The right technology partners will share this vision and work alongside you to achieve it. But you have to demand more from them than just efficiency or software updates. You need true strategic partners in building a lasting culture of philanthropy.

Cultivating Deep Community Engagement: 4 Key Factors For nonprofits seeking to boost donor retention and participation, cultivating a deep sense of community is key. According to research from the Donor Participation Project, successful nonprofits that have grown donor participation over time share four factors in common: Participatory They facilitate two-way conversations and make supporters feel like their voices matter. For example, they host interactive virtual or in-person events where donors can engage with staff and each other. They also solicit feedback and input from donors on a regular basis. Purposeful They bring people together around a shared purpose, not just for social reasons. The community has a reason for coming together, like advocating for a cause or participating in a volunteer program. Donors feel connected to the mission. Recurring They provide repeat opportunities for donors to engage over time. One-off events are not enough. Things like monthly giving programs, alumni groups, and annual events that people look forward to every year help build familiarity and loyalty. Leadership development They identify supporters who want to get more involved and help develop them into leaders and ambassadors. Things like volunteering, joining a committee, or becoming a board member allow donors to strengthen their ties to the organization and spread the word to others. Nonprofits that check all four of these boxes are most likely to see donor participation and retention rates rise over time. While it requires an investment of time and resources, cultivating a deep sense of community and purpose among supporters can pay off through sustainable funding and lasting impact. The key is making donor engagement and participation a top priority, and being willing to experiment with new strategies to find what resonates most with your mission and supporters. With attention and care, nonprofits can build a base of lifelong supporters connected to their cause.

How to Create an Effective Annual Calendar for Your Donors An annual communications calendar is essential for engaging your donors and sustaining their support. To create an effective calendar, start with a blank slate and gather your team. Identify your “must haves,” like an end-of-year campaign, as well as ongoing and engagement communications. Get input from volunteers and leadership, then establish rules of engagement to streamline the planning process. - Must haves are non-negotiable events tied to your fiscal calendar. Map these first, then add ongoing communications like gift anniversaries and thank yous. Next, schedule donor surveys, town halls, and check-ins to drive engagement. Balance the workload across months and teams. - Share your draft calendar with volunteers and donors. Explain each item and get their feedback. Donors will feel valued, and you’ll build trust for when you ask them to give. Meet with leadership, answer their questions, and clarify the rules of engagement. For example, specify that after calendar approval, each campaign becomes a project brief with assigned leaders who can make decisions. Suggestions require stating how they support goals. Other ideas go into a file for future campaigns. - With approvals, turn campaigns into project briefs detailing objectives, audiences, strategies and responsibilities. Track action items in a project management system. Appoint leaders to oversee each campaign. Briefs drive work, and changes must link to goals. Post-campaign, review with staff for next year’s planning. An effective calendar boosts trust and giving. Engage donors and volunteers, get leadership support, then empower project leaders. Solicit feedback openly but require constructive suggestions. By balancing continuity, innovation and workload, your calendar will help revenue flow sustainably all year round. Planning ahead and documenting thoroughly will transform reactive “fire drills” into proactive, purposeful campaigns. An annual calendar is a roadmap to fundraising success.

How AI Can Help With Donor Retention and Engagement Artificial intelligence and machine learning tools are transforming fundraising. While AI may seem futuristic, many nonprofits are already using AI-based solutions to improve donor retention and boost engagement. Here are three ways AI can help: 1. Reactivate lapsed donors. Chatbots, like the AI Fundraising Coach, can help re-engage donors who have stopped giving. The bot leads you through a strategic process to understand why donors stopped giving and craft personalized outreach plans. For example, if a major donor’s child was rejected from your university, the bot suggests expressing empathy, taking responsibility for any mistakes, and discussing other ways the donor can stay involved. This human-centered approach, guided by AI, can be highly effective for winning back donor trust and support. 2.Improve your fundraising copy. AI copywriting tools, such as The Best Fundraiser’s Friend, can help generate appeals, newsletters, and other fundraising content. You provide information about your campaign or organization and the tool creates a draft. The results need editing but can save time and inspire new ideas. For the best results, provide background on your nonprofit’s mission, values, impact, and any details about the specific campaign. The more context the AI has, the more tailored and compelling the copy will be. 3-Analyze donor data. Some nonprofits are using AI and machine learning to analyze donor data and predict individuals who are most likely to make a gift or increase their giving. Identifying these high-capacity donors allows fundraising teams to create targeted engagement plans. While implementing AI models requires technical skills, many nonprofits work with third-party data companies and consultants to leverage AI in this way. The result is data-driven insights to guide strategic decisions about allocating donor resources. In summary, AI and chatbot tools can help nonprofits revitalize lapsed donor relationships, improve fundraising copy with custom content, and uncover data insights about high-value donors. As with any technology, AI has its limitations and downsides, but by starting small and taking an intentional approach, nonprofit fundraisers can find opportunities to build more personal connections and make a bigger impact. The future of fundraising is human-centered—with some help from AI.

The Problem with Direct Mail: Why Segmentation and Targeting Matter Direct mail has long been a staple of nonprofit fundraising. However, as donors receive more and more solicitation letters in their mailboxes, response rates have declined dramatically. The problem lies not with direct mail itself but with the way many nonprofits approach it. Sending blanket appeals to broad audiences is no longer effective. According to fundraising experts, nonprofits need to improve how they segment audiences and target their messages. Organizations that take the time to analyze their donor data and group supporters based on factors like giving history, interests, and demographics see much higher returns on their direct mail campaigns. For example, an animal welfare nonprofit may find that younger female donors are especially responsive to messages emphasizing medical care for pets in need. For mid-level donors over age 65, messages highlighting the organization’s high charity ratings and low administrative costs may be more motivating. Testing different appeals with smaller donor segments allows nonprofits to determine what resonates most before rolling out campaigns on a larger scale. Targeting the right message to the right donors is key. As one fundraising expert noted, “The biggest mistake nonprofits make is trying to be all things to all people. You have to get specific about who your donors are and speak to them directly.” By allocating time and resources to researching and understanding their donor base, nonprofits can develop highly customized outreach that inspires action. In conclusion, while some argue that direct mail is a strategy of the past, it continues to be an important channel when done well. The key is avoiding a “spray and pray” approach in favor of messaging and targeting that is tailored to specific donor interests and motivations. With more sophisticated segmentation and targeting, nonprofits can overcome lackluster response rates, strengthen relationships, and achieve sustainable funding through direct mail.

Are you a development professional facing unprecedented challenges? We want to hear from you! Our survey aims to capture the realities of your daily work. Your insights could help transform our field. Take 10 minutes to make a difference: https://buff.ly/46O5LHW #PhilanthropyMatters #FundraiserVoices

Digital Engagement: The Future of Connecting with Alumni? For years, alumni participation rates have been a key metric and rankings factor for higher education institutions. However, with the US News & World Report recently dropping alumni giving from its rankings calculations, schools have an opportunity to rethink how they connect with and engage alumni. According to experts, digital engagement and a broader focus on engagement may be the future. Traditionally, alumni engagement has centered around giving and events. But today’s alumni consume information and connect in digital spaces. Institutions that don’t adapt to digital engagement models risk losing the opportunity to cultivate meaningful, long-term relationships with newer generations of alumni. Dr. Sholanda Martin notes that messaging has already started to shift, focusing more on impact and mission to inspire motivation for participation. Digital campaigns that highlight student and alumni stories are an example of how institutions are changing engagement models by showing the community and networks that exist within the school. Events like day of giving also serve a reputational purpose by demonstrating alumni pride and involvement. Rethinking engagement also means reimagining traditional phonathons. Instead of focusing only on securing annual fund gifts, phonathons could engage alumni in other ways like volunteer opportunities, mentorship, events, and more. This helps shift the mindset that alumni only hear from their alma mater when a donation is wanted. Engaging alumni through listening to their interests and motivations can lead to more impactful contributions and advocacy. While alumni participation as a metric isn’t going away, how institutions approach and measure it is changing. Partnerships across campus can help identify what success looks like. Digital engagement opens opportunities to connect with more alumni in meaningful ways. And broadening phonathons beyond just fundraising can demonstrate to alumni that their time, talent and treasure are all equally valuable. The future of alumni engagement is multifaceted, equitable, and focused on impact. By adapting engagement models, institutions can build lifelong relationships with alumni and a broader culture of philanthropy. The possibilities for connection and mutual benefit are endless.