The Fundraising Authority

DECEMBER 10, 2020

For example, at a small organization, your tactical calendar may look something like this: January – Prospecting mailing. February – E-mail fundraising letter. March – Housefile mailing. May – E-mail fundraising letter. Prospecting mailing. October – E-mail fundraising letter. December – Housefile mailing.

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Calendar Develop Organization Fundraising 220

Get Fully Funded

AUGUST 4, 2023

Should you print, stuff, and mail your own fundraising letter? If you have fewer than 200 mail recipients, the answer is probably yes. When you get more than 200 donors, you may be eligible to mail at nonprofit postage rates as low as 19 cents per piece (as of July 2023). No labels needed!

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Money Tips Time Mail 98

Bloomerang

MAY 3, 2021

Ask them if they’ll write a brief handwritten note on the next appeal you mail (give them a few sample notes). If they can’t come into the office, send them a bunch of sticky notes to write and mail back to you; insert these into the appropriate envelopes. If you feel you get too many gifts a day to do this, reconsider.

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Action Donor Tips Fundraising 127

The Fundraising Authority

DECEMBER 24, 2020

An astute reader e-mailed me after the article was published to remind me that I forgot one important piece of the puzzle: stewarding donors after they give. Using newsletters, e-mails , videos, podcasts, websites, non-ask events , etc. first appeared on The Fundraising Authority. Call your donors… ask them for suggestions.

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Nonprofit Tech for Good

FEBRUARY 17, 2022

Your most passionate volunteers have a lot of useful data floating around in spreadsheets, e-mails, texts, and minds. Ask local businesses if they can help you thank your volunteers by donating gifts or experiences. About the Author. To get the word out and increase your reach, there is strength in numbers.

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Tips Fundraising Management Cancer 344

Bloomerang

FEBRUARY 9, 2022

Let’s say you had a mail merge snafu that messed up your donors’ names and addresses. Many promptly mailed in their checks using the reply device, while others gave online. We respectfully thanked the donor for their kindness and generosity, explained our perspective, and declined the gift. What do you do if you upset a donor?

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Donor Mail Gift Language 131

The Fundraising Authority

MARCH 28, 2021

In today’s media-overloaded world, your message could easily be drowned out by competing emails, social posts, and direct mail. While some of your volunteers may have never made a monetary gift to your organization, they certainly already understand your mission and the cause you serve. Connect with Corbit on Linkedin.

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Volunteer Donor Storytelling Linkedin 189

Bloomerang

APRIL 5, 2021

of gifts per year x Avg. gift amount = Lifetime Value. Example: If your average donor has been on file for 5 years, gives an average of 3 gifts per year, with an average gift amount of $25 then their lifetime value is $375. [5 Do we have a cultivation plan and revenue goal for our major gift donors? .

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The Fundraising Authority

JANUARY 15, 2021

Thank you letters are the start of the stewardship process , the linchpin of your donor recognition efforts, and the beginning of your work to secure another, larger gift from your donors. As I sat here this morning opening the mail, I came across your generous donation. Stop Searching for Sample Letters. Thank you !

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Sample Profit Donor Children 169

Bloomerang

DECEMBER 13, 2022

When respected researcher Penelope Burk asked donors why they stopped giving, or why they gave less than they could, here are some of their responses : I didn’t receive any information at all after making a gift to a not-for-profit last year. What my friends and I talk about is how donors who make smaller gift are dismissed as unimportant.

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Retention Donor Gift Nonprofit 107

Bloomerang

JUNE 23, 2021

For the last 5 or so years, there has been a trend in new donor acquisition : Response rates continue to drop while average gifts continue to rise. As we look specifically at direct mail or email strategies for new donor acquisition, the way to improve this global trend is to mail fewer people with a focus on connecting with the right people.

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Rate Donor Mail Files 79

Get Fully Funded

NOVEMBER 11, 2021

Let’s say that your contributions from direct mail donors of less than $1,000 fell off by 60% in 2020 as compared to the previous year. This was because you had to cut your budget, and the volunteers who usually helped with mailings weren’t available—so no mailings were sent. About the Author.

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Training Train Volunteer Effective 105

Qgiv

AUGUST 9, 2023

Boost program participation and engagement with the following strategies: Optimize your recurring gift calls to action (CTAs) A recurring gift or donation CTA is a button or form field that encourages donors to become recurring supporters. Day 50: Send another piece of mail to let donors know what their gifts helped fund.

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Relationship Donor Gift Retention 52

Bloomerang

JUNE 9, 2021

When speaking with Millennials, Gen X, and Gen Z people about direct mail, you often hear, “I just throw that out.” Let’s go back to direct mail fundraising, for example. . One of the hallmarks of effective direct mail is that having a story focused on one person’s plight will get more money than saying “you can help thousands.”

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Effective Fundraising Mail Gift 112

NetWits

FEBRUARY 27, 2012

direct mail) you’ll increase the lifetime value of that donor from $128 dollars to $197 dollars – An increase that any nonprofit organization would love to see. Download “Increase the Lifetime Value of your Supporters — Create a Recurring Gift Program” by Bill Connors , author of Fundraising with The Raiser’s Edge.

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Examples Program Los Angeles Giving 168

Pamela Grow

MARCH 6, 2024

The author of Everybody Writes (2nd Edition): Your New and Improved Go-to Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content and Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and More) That Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business , not to mention a founder of MarketingProfs , Ann knows engaging writing.

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Resource Newsletter Case Study Nonprofit 98

Bloomerang

JANUARY 20, 2023

This year they’ve sent me some expensive mailings, and a couple of appeals asking me via letter to renew my gift or consider increasing it to $7,500. I love the mission, but wonder if my gift really matters to them. Maybe my gift would make a larger impact elsewhere? I don’t know what to do.

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Donor Philanthropy Charity Gift 100

Bloomerang

AUGUST 7, 2021

The real work of major gift fundraising is relationship building. This is why the fundraising adage “ major gift officers have to get out from behind their desks ” has long been accepted wisdom. . Executive and development directors, as well as major gift officers, need to understand the need to get out of the office.

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Develop Gift Charity Teach 119

Top Nonprofits

OCTOBER 27, 2021

By Erica Waasdorp, President, A Direct Solution and author of Monthly Giving. I’ve never heard of a donor who complained that there was an extra button in their emails asking for a one-time gift and then another button asking for a monthly gift. So, join some programs with a small gift and see what others are doing.

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Giving Massachusetts Gift Donor 110

Achieve

JANUARY 27, 2023

Now, it’s time to open up the option of recurring gifts to your supporters. Here are some other ways to optimize your donation form for recurring gifts: Add suggested giving amounts. By incorporating your nonprofit logo and colors across your donation page, you can assure your supporters that their gifts will directly help your cause.

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Program Giving Gift Mail 52

Get Fully Funded

JUNE 14, 2023

Here are the most common communication channels nonprofits use and what types of messages they work best for: Direct mail. Direct mail is best suited for older donors who may be less technologically savvy. After a donor makes a gift, regardless of its size, send them a thank-you message. Phone call.

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Communication Personal Donor Nonprofit 59

Get Fully Funded

MARCH 16, 2021

Direct mail is a valuable fundraising strategy, but figuring out how to send a nonprofit appeal can be confusing. You’re just mailing a letter asking for a donation, right? If you’re a beginner at mailing fundraising appeals , it’s really important that you understand the strategy and psychology behind what makes a good letter.

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Results Mail Nonprofit Money 98

NonProfit Hub

OCTOBER 29, 2014

He is the author of over 20 books, numerous academic articles and dozens of papers and presentations worldwide. These gifts have ranged from pens, pins, plaques, to expensive gift baskets, coffee mugs and the naming of a building or room, in the case of philanthropists. There are two general categories of gifts to donors.

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Gift Nonprofit Alternative Charity 51

Get Fully Funded

JANUARY 18, 2023

Use a mix of these platforms for communication: Email Social media Zoom meetings Direct mail Flyers sent home with students Then, combine these methods with in-person events and meetings if everyone is comfortable with that. One strategic way to make the most out of each and every donation is by using corporate matching gifts.

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Lesson Learning Tips Fundraising 98

Network for Good

SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

Whether you’re looking for your very first subscription gift or you are looking to expand upon the donors you already have, there are a few things you can do to make sure you’re promoting this opportunity in your communications. Brainstorm ideas to talk about subscription gifts differently than one-time donations.

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Giving Fundraising Gift Donation 98

Achieve

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Spotlight your corporate partner on social media, your email newsletter, and your website. To go one step further, you can offer your corporate sponsor gifts to show how thankful you are for them. This could include free merchandise or gift baskets. Consider incorporating your cause into your gifts, too.

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Sponsor Strategy Proposal Metrics 52

The Fundraising Authority

DECEMBER 5, 2020

As well they should… a very high percentage of all charitable gifts are made during the year-end fundraising cycle. Today, I want to present a sample year-end fundraising e-mail for a fictional non-profit organization. Lots of fundraisers ask me what a great year-end e-mail appeal should look like — well, here it is.

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Mail Sample Profit Fundraising 199

Get Fully Funded

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

These materials should be easily shareable across multiple channels—email, social media, direct mail, and SMS—so your fundraiser can easily reach as many of their peers as possible. Host a Last-Minute Matching Gift Push Matching gifts help amplify fundraising exponentially and work especially well for peer-to-peer efforts.

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Results Strategy Fundraising Nebraska 52

Bloomerang

MAY 26, 2021

Options could include: Direct mail. Once you have their first gift, make sure you work extra hard to bond them to your organization—otherwise retention can be a problem moving forward. It shows that this is a concerted effort on the part of the organization and not just a spam email or junk mail. Peer-to-peer fundraisers.

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Program Donor Tips Channel 116

Connection Cafe

DECEMBER 3, 2010

Author: Amber Wobschall. And for many of us, a time to exchange gifts. As I sat on the plane home this past weekend reading a magazine on the top 50 gifts under $50, I thought about how much stuff I have, how much of it I really don’t need and what really makes for a meaningful gift. Smaller Wallet (Under $50).

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Gift Minnesota Mail Green 48

Saleforce Nonprofit

JULY 21, 2021

For example, if direct marketing segments are pulled before the most current gifts have been entered from donation pages, contacts may be pulled into the wrong groups and sent inappropriate solicitation messaging. She also gets no gift acknowledgement because of the erroneous email address. About the Author. Stu Manewith.

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Integration System Los Angeles Picture 120

DipJar

FEBRUARY 2, 2023

There could be issues with the appeal itself keeping your organization from reaching key donors—maybe you’re sending your direct mail campaigns to donors who prefer email campaigns. When you combine these data sources, you can answer questions like: Who is new to your file that hasn’t made a gift yet?

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Fundraising Channel Files Data 52

Bloomerang

JULY 5, 2021

Per the Loyalty Barometer, 58% of consumers feel the most important way a brand can interact with them is through surprise offers and gifts. Surprise offers and gifts helped alleviate some of the financial strain many felt during a pandemic and recession, while convenient shopping experiences reduced stress and anxiety.

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Donor Strategy Retention Relationship 141

The Modern Nonprofit

APRIL 6, 2021

In this blog, you’ll learn about: Annual Giving, Donor Retention, Major & Legacy Gifts, Online Fundraising, Boards & Leadership, Content Marketing, Social Engagement , Strategy & Management, and Culture & Values. The authors aren’t just fundraising experts, but also literary and playful in their writing.

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Bookmarking Storytelling Nonprofit Social Media 98

Saleforce Nonprofit

OCTOBER 6, 2021

Make a small donation to your organization and check the following: How many clicks does it take to successfully make a gift? As the donor, what message do you receive on the donation page following your successful gift? You can also try connecting your donation page to your campaign, be it by email or direct mail communication.

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Giving Fundraising Marketing Product 65

Connection Cafe

APRIL 12, 2011

Author: Lynn Howes. With the postage increase looming, you may be looking for opportunities to reduce your mail stream without reducing your net income. Many nonprofits use the RFM selection strategy in order to identify whom to mail for a certain appeal. But I digress. in printing and postage costs.

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Mail Convio Analysis Method 44

Bloomerang

APRIL 12, 2021

When you’re determining who to cultivate for your major donor portfolio, do you simply look at everyone who gave more than $1,000 (or whatever your major gift amount is) and dump them all into your portfolio for the year? Where Do Qualifying and Tiering Donors Fall Within Major Gift Fundraising? I confess: I used to do that.

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Donor Gift Teach Phone 75