four people raise hands in support of your cause

That to which we commit, especially publicly, becomes congruent with our self image.

four people raise hands in support of your cause

The more publicly people commit, the more resistant they are to changing their minds

This article is about the psychology of securing lasting donor commitments.

Something that’s critical in a world where less than one in five of new donors renew

It relates to one of Robert Cialdini’s principles of influence and persuasion: “commitment and consistency.”

The main point is this:

Once we make a decision, and strongly attach ourselves to an idea by agreeing orally or in writing, it’s more likely we’ll stick with that decision than change our minds.

Because people are wired to want to be consistent.

That to which we commit, especially publicly, becomes congruent with our self image.

What does this mean for you as a fundraiser?

Details
Leave a commentDonor Retention
Sigmund Freud in office

5 Secrets of Psychologists: How to Get Donors to Say “Yes”

 

Sigmund Freud in officeIn 1984 Robert Cialdini wrote a groundbreaking book, Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, outlining principles of influence that affect human behaviors.

These principles are well documented, and can be incredibly useful to fundraisers.

Even someone inclined to support your cause may not give unless you push the right buttons.

Here are five triggers — with a few suggested strategies (I’m sure you can come up with more) —  to use these principles in your offline and online relationship building with prospective supporters:

Details
Leave a commentAnnual Giving
Finger pointing

Is Your Finger on the Nonprofit Appeal Trigger?

Finger pointingWhatever side of the political spectrum you’re on, the photos below are triggering.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2026/jul/10/the-week-around-the-world-in-20-pictures

Note: I can’t show you the photos because they’re copyrighted, but if you click on the link you’ll likely recognize at least some of them.

Why am I sharing photos I can’t even show you?

I want to make an important point.

One I feel too few nonprofits give much thought to.

Could you be among them?

If so, I don’t fault you. No one teaches us these things.

Most of us didn’t go to journalism school.

But, let’s face it, journalists really do know how to grab attention!

You want to grab attention with this year’s fundraising appeal, right?

Okay then.

I’m going to share a simple tip that will boost your fundraising returns this year by leaps and bounds.

Again, it’s super simple.

But you’ve got to start now. Or maybe even yesterday.

Are you ready?

Details
Leave a commentAnnual Giving
Heart held in hands

Better Nonprofit Communications: 7 Simple Ways to Increase Donor Response

Nonprofits put enormous time and care into donor communications. Yet too often, appeals, es, newsletters, websites, and event promotions fail to generate the response organizations hope for. Why? Usually. it’s not because the mission isn’t compelling. It’s because the communication isn’t connecting quickly or emotionally enough. Today’s donors are overloaded with information and constantly distracted.…

Details
Leave a commentContent Marketing
cat and bird size each other up

Show Me You Know Me* — 5 Strategies To Sustain Donor Relationships

 

cat and bird size each other upLet’s pretend you and your donor are not connecting meaningfully right now. You’re not sure why. Could it be they feel financially insecure…  they’re worried for their kids… they’ve been let down by politicians… they’re just feeling cynical and/or hopeless? For whatever reason, things aren’t singing between you and them. They haven’t renewed. They haven’t upgraded. They haven’t responded to any of your outreach. They seem to have other priorities.

So, you decide to go to counseling to reinvigorate the relationship. The therapist makes a wise observation: Sometimes in life, one partner feels strong; the other less strong. In such times, the stronger partner has resources to support the weaker partner. Other times, neither partner feels they have coping resources. During these times, we have to depend more on ourselves, be patient, and accept that our partner is not currently in a strong position – even though we really need their support.

Are you being a support for your donor? Are you helping, not selling all the time? Are you being patient, yet persistently showing you care?

We’re in turbulent times.. Alas, as need is burgeoning there are fewer individual givers.  During the pandemic, some industries, like education, began losing support. As did many smaller charities not involved in addressing hot-button topics. And prior to the pandemic studies showed giving to be sluggish. Donors are less loyal. Donors may be distracted by emergencies. Or so-called rage giving. Or simply uncertainty about what lies ahead. So they’re giving less consistently. As a result, donor centered fundraising has never been as important as it is now.

People are feeling a need to be nurtured. In other words: Ask not what your donors can do for you, but what you can do for your donors. Recognize they don’t serve you; you serve them. They don’t owe you; you owe them.  Your job is to help them experience the joy of giving. It is through you they will achieve their most meaningful work.

Embrace the true meaning of philanthropy as love of humankind.  Remember your donors are humankind; you must love them if you want to be a part of philanthropy.  Otherwise, you’re just transacting business.

So… what can you do to embrace love — 360 degrees — and thereby open the doors to passionate philanthropy?

Details
2 CommentsDonor Retention

7 Magic Words that Increase Charitable Donations

Magician pulling dollars out of hat

Watch me pull a heartfelt donation out of a hat!

This is one of my all-time most popular posts. And since you’ve still got time to sprinkle a little magic into your year-end fundraising, I decided to share it again!

Consider each of these seven words a magic potion unto themselves.

  1. You
  2. Because
  3. Thanks
  4. Small
  5. Immediate
  6. Expert
  7. Support

The more of these words you use, the more powerful a spell your appeal will cast.

Each of these packs a bigger persuasive punch than you might imagine.

Let’s take a closer look at how this works.

Details
Leave a commentAnnual Giving