Getting a second gift from a donor and keeping donors is a major challenge for all fundraisers.
Here are some simple tips and thoughts on how to keep donors.
Focus on donor retention as much as you concentrate on donor acquisition
We spend a lot of time looking for new donors, but we don’t spend as much time trying to win and retain them. I believe that one excellent way to retain donors and obtain a second gift is to take the time to phone supporters and thank them for their first gift.
Think about the donor outside of just one campaign.
This requires a commitment to relationships and to look at your response rate over time. Gauge success by the way your supporters behave over their entire time of supporting you, not just one campaign.
Identify and invest in your most passionate supporters.
Donors who are most passionate and those that are most likely to donate a bequest, are those donors that bother to call you and tell you about their change of address or circumstances. Someone who goes to this trouble in invaluable and you should build upon that relationship rather than just thanking them for updating their details.