Download - Budget Friendly Ideas for Donor Stewardship
Budget Friendly Ideas for Donor Stewardship
Presented by: Vanessa Chase of The Storytelling Non-Profit
- and - CharityVillage
Vanessa Chase Fundraising and Communications Strategist www.TheStorytellingNonprofit.com Speaker: Association of fundraising professionals, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, npEngage, BBCON14, Association of Donor Relations Professionals Clients: BC Children’s Hospital
Foundation, Hope for the Nations, Wagner Hills Farm Society, A Rocha Canada, Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine
What You’ll Learn
• Why donor stewardship is the best way to
grow your fundraising revenue
• 5 tips to create a donor stewardship plan
• Easy, cost effective ideas for donor
stewardship
• Answers to your questions
Donor Retention
How to calculate your donor retention rate
(Number of donors who gave in
2013)/(Number of 2013 donors who gave again in 2014) x 100
Finding Solutions
Demonstrates impact + accountability
Practice of gratitude
Shows donors that you care
WAVAW
2010 – 2011 Fiscal Year Revenue $41,000 2013 – 2014 Fiscal Year Revenue $181,000 How? Monthly thank-a-thons Handwritten notes More touch points without an ask
They focused on taking care of their donors
Be Donor Centered
It’s about the donor, not your organization
You versus we Say thank you + report impact
The Stewardship Plan
When and how will you acknowledge gifts? How else will you steward donors in between asks?
Stewardship Ideas
Thank You Letters Use a creative opening sentence. Not “On behalf of. . .” Give a specific example of how the donation will be used. Include a picture or two of the work in action. Personalize the letter - donor’s name, gift amount, why they gave. Send it out promptly.
Stewardship Ideas
Handwritten Notes Have your Board Members write a few notes at the beginning of their meeting Use a different colored ink from the printed letter “I am so grateful for your gift! Thank you for being a champion of our work in the community.” “This year you have helped _____. Without your heartfelt gift, this would have not been possible. Thank you!”
Stewardship Ideas
Thank You Phone Calls “Hi, my name is Vanessa and I’m a staff member at _____. I’m calling today to say thank you for your recent gift! We were absolutely delighted to receive it and because of it you are making ______ possible.
Stewardship Ideas
Surprise and Delight Non-branded thank you card Confetti (in moderation!) Mission-driven gifts or events
The Stewardship Plan
Gift Level Acknowledgement Letter
Tax Receipt Thank You Call
$1 to $99 Yes – within 3 days Yes – early January
$100 to $499 Yes – within 3 days
Yes – early January
$500 to $999 Yes – within 3 days
Yes – early January
Yes – within 2 weeks
$1000 + Yes – within 3 days
Yes – early January
Yes – within 2 weeks
The Stewardship Plan
Monitor your results and evaluate your stewardship plan at least once per year Integrate the principles of great donor stewardship into your plan Focus on taking care of your donors Enlist the help of others