Why People Give: A Key Truth

There's one key truth worth remembering in every step you take fundraising for your nonprofit. 

If you remember nothing else from your studies, collaborations, or reading of this blog (just celebrated our 200th post), remember this:

Nonprofit organizations do not need money. You read right.

Nonprofit organizations need friends who are willing to learn more and potentially invest in saving and changing lives. 

People don't give because organizations need money. People give because living beings need help, organizations have solutions. Donor investments are the link between those in need and solutions. 

Take this key truth. Incorporate into every fundraising action you take: board meeting discussions, thank you's, fundraising campaigns, committee meetings and more. Make sure this key truth is the framework for all of your efforts to move your fundraising forward. 

What has your experience been with this key truth? What would you like it to be moving forward? 




Best wishes connecting your solutions with donor investments to save and change lives!
 
Photo credit above: http://www.flickr.com/photos/crazyneighborlady/

Careful, Relevant Donor Communictions: Lessons From Trip Advisor.com

Like many of you reading this blog, it's sometimes hard to keep up on the number of business and organizations who regularly send me email. 

What stands out in my experience? What lessons from that stand out might be applied to more effective fundraising? 

I utilize www.TripAdvisor.com frequently when traveling to gain insight on local restaurants and more. I try to give back to the insight I gain from the sight by sharing my own experiences. By a wide margin, they stand out as sending me careful, relevant donor communications.Why? 
 
1. TripAdvisor.com let me know that I am among the top 5% of their contributors. This makes me feel like I have achieved my goal of giving back to other users.  
What can you communicate to make your donors feel special and valued? Maybe let them know how many people your organization has served during the time they've been contributing to your organization? Let them know when they pass a giving milestone, or how close they might be to one?

2.  TripAdvisor.com promptly thanks me for each review I contribute. They immediately acknowledge my submission and let me know when it's posted.  
How about a quick call to let your donor know you received their donation, followed by a prompt, personal, hand-written thank-you note?

3. TripAdvisor.com sent positive, thank you filled emails that helped motivate me to make enough contributions to get to their highest contributor level. 
What message could you bring to your current donors, appreciating them while encourage them to stretch to the next level of giving?

4. TripAdvisor.com regularly communicates with me based around my contributions, with occasional supporting messages like the Top 5% mentioned above. I've lost track of how many unsubscribes I've submitted for weekly or more frequent messages from other organizations.
How can you strike a balance between staying in regular contact with your donors without being perceived as a pest? What do your donors have to say about this?

What do you think? What communication stands out to you?

Photo link above: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierragoddess/