Winter Wonderland Clairity Click-it: Nonprofit Links, Free Resources
Click it!
We’re fast approaching the giving season. What better time to think about ways we can give back to our donors? If you’re developing a gratitude culture, you’ll do this by being donor-centered with every communication to your supporters. You’ll do it by acting ethically and putting your donors needs first. And you’ll do it by honoring your donors and rewarding them for being the amazing people they are. Here are some articles to help you be the best you can be.
Donor Communication
Click-It: How MoveOn.org stupidly and avoidably lost me as a donor. Read this from Tom Ahern (who’s got some of the best advice in the business) and weep. TIP TO CONSIDER: If you aren’t sure you know how your donors prefer to be addressed, then take special care. Consider including something on your remit piece like this: “We hope we’re not addressing you too formally – or too casually. How would you like us to address you? Thanks!”
Click-It: Donor Communication Is A Life And Death Issue. On a related note, Dennis Fischman writes in #fundchat about the importance of showing your donors you know them. Literally, it can mean life and death, or love and hatred.
Click-It: 8 Great Ways to End Your Emails or Letters by Greg Warner of Market Smart offers some donor-centered closers to donor communications. Notice he always begins with the donor, and makes liberal use of the word “you.”
Ethics
Click-It: Payola. Richard Freedland has dedicated his greatergoodfundraising blog over the past couple of months to the subject of ethics in the fundraising profession. He found me because I also had a recent post on this important subject. Every now and then, it’s good to remind yourself that we’re in the business of “goodness.” Be good, surround yourself with good people, and reap the rewards.
Donor-Centered Leadership
Click-It: Who Owns Your NonProfit? Richard Perry writes in Fundraising Success about the oft-forgotten fact that donors are the equivalent of nonprofit shareholders. Do you treat them as such? Or do you still treat them as necessary evils? As wallets? It’s time to shift your attitude towards gratitude. Donors are your center. They enable your mission to thrive. Reward them accordingly.
Click-It: Inspirational Leadership: Renew Your Own Passion. Here’s an interesting article by Adolfo Comer about something all fundraisers need to do a lot more of. Passion is contagious. If you’ve got it, you can spread it. If not, not so much. My favorite take-away line from this article? “Take personal responsibility for your own passion – don’t just “wait to be inspired. If inspiration doesn’t bump into you, go out and look for it. ”
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Passion is Your Ace in the Hole
As I noted above, if you’ve got it you can spread it. It makes asking easy! Learn how to inspire yourself and your volunteer solicitors with Volume 2 of my Major Gifts Playbook: Get Your Solicitors and Donors Ready for the Major Gift Ask- Workbook. Never feel bad about asking, and never leave money on the table again. Get it here! Or get all 4 volumes at the Bargain Bundle Discount. Why not give yourself a gift? After all, it’s the season!
Photo: Flickr, Isaac Torronterra
