How to Handle a “Demanding” Donor

How to Handle a “Demanding” Donor

Donor Care, Donor Love
I used to have a mental picture of “difficult” major donors, based on horror stories I’d heard.  I imagined a cigar-chomping business tycoon who wanted to use large donations to remake a nonprofit to fit his own preferred vision, not…
Read More
The Not Really a Newsletter Newsletter That Can Supercharge Your Donor Retention

The Not-Really-a-Newsletter Newsletter That Can Supercharge Your Donor Retention

Donor Care, Newsletters
Almost all fundraisers understand the value of a donor newsletter: They improve donor retention by showing donors that their giving makes a difference. Newsletters can also raise net revenue on their own. It’s a major win-win for fundraisers. Here’s some…
Read More
Love your donors heart

Hurry up and Read This Beautiful Book on Caring for Your Donors

Books, Donor Care
Book Review: Donor CARE: How to Keep Donors Coming Back AFTER the First Gift, by John Haydon When you read a book, you often get a sense of the author. It’s so much like they’re in the room with you,…
Read More
Pop Art Senior Woman Riding Scooter e1570866857578

2 Truths Your Donors Wish You Understood about Direct Mail

Creativity, Direct Mail, Donor Care, Donor Love, Donor Psychology, Writing
I am a Gen Xer. I am not the core target market for direct mail. In my early twenties I had to learn two lessons quickly in order to do my job as a Fundraising Appeal Manager. Lesson one: The…
Read More
Pop Art man jumping with phone e1561507618663

4 Ways to Secure That All-Important Second Gift

Direct Mail, Donor Care, Donor Love
I met up with a fundraiser — let’s call him Brian — a couple of years ago to talk about the work my team had been doing for their donor acquisition program. The direct mail acquisition was doing really well.…
Read More
Pop Art Businessman watered money dollars from a watering can

The Most Important Gift from Your Donor – It’s the 2nd, Not the 1st!

Direct Mail, Donor Care, Donor Love
I started my working life in customer service, selling women’s shoes. This had two major impacts on my life.  I have a shoe addiction that appears to be incurable. I have always believed that understanding your customer leads to the best…
Read More