Home is Where the Heart Is: A Fundraising List Idea

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ambernectar/

A few weeks ago, this FlashPoint blog post began exploring starting a contact list as the foundation stone for your fundraising efforts. Today we expand on the notion that home is where your heart is as one step in the ongoing development your organization's list deserves. 

What groups of people might consider your organization in their personal definition of home? Are you regular reaching out to them? Examples might include:

• Program alumni or service recipients.
• Previous volunteers and/or board members.
• Community residents who are now living elsewhere.  If they still have family in the area, you have a natural verifier for their contact information next door.
• Consider inviting retirees who love your community to help you build this list. They are an incredible source of names and ideas. 
• Might you either host a new homecoming event once a year or add something to an existing homecoming celebration? Take photos or videos and share them with everyone on your list, even if they can't attend.

It's important to first re-establish connections with those who think of your organization as "home," either due to direct experience or because you represent community good. In doing so, you will have reconnected with an important part of people's hearts. Once the relationship is re-established, consider including this group in future fundraising appeals.

What works well for your organization in reconnecting with those who think of your organization as home? Share your experiences in the comments section below.