Key Strategies to Give Meaningful Nonprofit Work Feedback
Did you miss the most popular tips on Clairification last year?
The trending topics included how to effectively leave voicemail; retention techniques; email and other campaign appeal strategy; how to communicate about things like overhead and transaction fees; philanthropic culture and board giving. The standout articles, from bottom to top, include:
Countdown: Top 10 Hottest Topics on Clairification
10. Top Strategy to Get 100% of Nonprofit Board to Give Passionately
The bottom line here is to make a shift from pussyfooting around the subject of fundraising to embracing it warmly. It’s easier when you reframe “fundraising” as “philanthropy facilitation,” enabling board members to come from a place of love. When you recruit effectively, role-model asking and provide board members with ongoing support, the transformation you’ll see – both in giving and getting – will be amazing.
9. Fundraising Don’ts vs. Do’s: Mailed Fundraising Appeal Strategy
Here I dissect a direct mail appeal I received, analyzing what works and what doesn’t. Spoiler alert: I wasn’t very happy with this mailer. I looked at the carrier envelope, letter and remit piece format, copy and visuals.
8. Bottom Line: Philanthropy Culture Improves Fundraising
Here I discuss whether a culture of philanthropy is just something that’s ‘nice’ to have, or whether it actually affects your bottom line – making it ‘necessary?’ I believe it’s the latter, and here I explain why. Plus, I suggest ways to nurture it.
7. Want a true philanthropic culture? Make it the air you breathe.
I was happy this topic was so popular last year, as your organization’s culture can make or break your fundraising. What type of culture do you have? Here are some questions to ask yourself or, better yet, to do as a group exercise with a team of staff and/or board.
6. Last Minute Strategic Year-End Email Appeal Tips
Your best bet for boosting year-end results is digital. Because it’s fast, and you can target and repeat it. This article lays out how to craft your most compelling offer, how to emotionally structure your narrative, and how to assure people give both today and tomorrow.
5. Choose Your Tuesday: Greed or Goodwill?
I’m not a fan of asking for yet more money on a “made up holiday” that focuses substantially on “fund”raising. rather than “philanthropy facilitation.” Since November and December are gratitude season, why not lead off your year-end campaign by giving donors something that shows your gratitude to them? If you do it right, the goodwill you establish should set you up for better results.
4. What to Say When Your Donor Asks: How Much do you Spend on Overhead?
It’s important you be able to answer this question, and not in a defensive way. Trying to evaluate an NPO’s performance and trustworthiness by assessing just what they spend on administrative expenses, including fundraising, is a MYTH that results in organizations starving themselves. Here’s how to resist the temptation to collude in perpetuating this myth.
3. Should you ask nonprofit donors to cover gift transaction fees?
Ever wonder about the upsides and downsides in asking donors to cover credit card and other gift transaction fees? Here I break down everything you should consider. There’s no one right answer. However, should you decide to go for it, I explain best practices.
2. Will Your Nonprofit’s Donors Decide to Leave You? Emphatically yes.
This answer is based, alas, on my experience with too many nonprofits failing to proactively plan for retention. As a result, donors don’t feel connected. Rather, they feel taken for granted. This article explains how to make donors feel like insiders. The bottom line here is the way you say thank you is the most important part of your overall donor love and loyalty communication strategy.
1. Should You Leave a Voicemail?
This depends, in part, on the demographics of your own donors. But don’t make assumptions. With donors you know, where the timing is right, don’t hesitate to make a human connection. Chatting personally gives you the opportunity to get to know your donor better. And if they don’t pick up, you can always follow up with a text or email.
Here are a few more articles you may have missed, just because it was a busy, busy, busy season.
- Don’t Blow Your Post-Holiday Opportunity to Thank Your Nonprofit Supporters. The time to do this is NOW!
- Key Strategies to Give Meaningful Nonprofit Work Feedback. Make this your new year’s resolution?
- Psychology of Securing Lasting Nonprofit Donor Commitments. This is something you can use year-round to improve donor retention.
HAPPY READING!
Get The 7 Clairification Keys To Unlock Your Nonprofit’s Fundraising Potential
Through a series of clairifying worksheets and individual and group exercises, this 42-page guide will give you fresh insights.
You’ll learn how to:
- Clairify your Values and lead from passion, not need.
- Clairify your Stories and share them; make your donors heroes.
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Spend some time to bring your work to life with these 7 Clairification Keys. If you’re not happy for any reason, you have my no-questions-asked, 30-day, 100% refund guarantee!
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
