Recognize the donor you are contacting

There are donor communications that generate a response from prospective donors. Effective donor communications normally share common characteristics depending on the best practices. Below, we will explore the communication practices that result in engaged donors. 

It is important to first recognize who you want to send your message to. Would you like to contact a single group or different groups of donors? For instance, you can contact an individual donor, a major donor or a corporation that gives donations. By understanding each donor individually, you can identify their preferences and motivation for donating. You can then tailor your message to match these motivations.

Build relationships with donors

A great way to achieve this is to personalize communications. Donors are most likely to engage with personalized messaging. To personalize your communication, collect data from your donors. You can then use this data to send them messages about your organization and how you use their donations. This is a great way to build long-term relationships with them because they appreciate that you take the time to understand their needs. This is also because they know their contributions will be used for useful purposes. 

Appreciate them

There are different ways to say thank you to all your donors. A great way to achieve this is to celebrate your donors. When speaking about the impact of the donation, focus more on the donor and less so on your organization. This will ensure that the donors feel like the enablers of your work. Again, you can appreciate your donors by thanking them frequently and regularly or take a step further and create a donor recognition wall (see examples here). You should not only thank your donors after a donation. It ensures that your donors know how grateful you are for their support. 

Plan for ongoing communications

It is crucial to make your donors feel like they are a part of your organization. A great way to achieve this is to ensure that they are always in the loop. Inform them about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities and fundraisers. You should also inform them about any current projects you are working on and give them regular updates. You can also keep your donors engaged by prioritizing their feedback. 

In this case, you can provide them with ways to reach your organization. This may be through an email or a phone number. Getting feedback from your donors shows that you care about them and that you are willing to change your tactics to better suit the community’s needs.

Foster a community built on gratitude

Your non-profit organization will only succeed if you get support from your community. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure your community feels how grateful you are to them. Show love to your donors, staff members and your volunteers. Remind them that they are appreciated for all the work they do for the organization. Being grateful for everything you do is a great way to increase engagement with your staff members, volunteers and staff members. 

All the communication strategies highlighted above are highly effective for non-profits seeking to retain and attract more donors.