We hope you met all your goals and raised a lot of money this appeal season that will help make the world a better place. You’re probably tired, but your work isn’t done! And you can do even more if you make it a priority to retain year-end donors!
You already know making sure your current donors stick around is more sustainable than securing a bunch of one-off donations. But donors won’t give again if you don’t make them feel like their gift made a difference.
They need to understand that their support is appreciated and essential for your nonprofit.
So, here’s what you need to do.
1. Jump on it!
It’s not enough to thank donors when you get around to it. You need to be timely with your thank you’s if you want to retain year-end donors.
This means reaching out with an automated thank you email once a transaction is processed. This email should include a receipt for the donor’s records and thank them for supporting your mission.
READ MORE: Can your nonprofit send better thank you’s?
2. Learn more about them.
You can go a step further by sending a link to your new donor survey if this is the first time someone has given to your organization.
A survey gives you more information you can use to personalize future touches.
And it lets donors know you care about them and want to accommodate their preferences. Long-term donors stick around because they know the organization cares about more than what’s in their wallets. So, start your new relationship off on the right foot!
Ask new donors what enticed them to give for the first time, what future communications they would like to receive, or if there is anything they think you can do better.
READ MORE: Why aren’t you using donor surveys?
3. Thank them again.
You’re sadly mistaken if you think your work is done after your automated thank you hits a donor’s inbox.
Think about the last time someone went out of their way to help you. You probably felt like you had to return the favor somehow. Saying “Hey, thanks!” once would feel inadequate and rude!
Go the extra mile to show how appreciative you are. Reach out with a handwritten note, phone call, or personal video message and thank them again.
4. Show and tell.
Let’s stick with the mindset of treating your donor like a helpful friend. You don’t just want to tell them you’re thankful. You want to make sure you show them why you’re so grateful! And the same is true if you want to retain year-end donors.
So, give them some real examples of how their gift made a difference.
Let them know how their gift of $X is impacting the goals and values they share with your nonprofit.
And don’t just ask them to take your word for it! Use powerful pictures of your mission in action to help tell the story. Share stories and testimonials from the people who benefit from your work. And then update them about your progress in future communications!
READ MORE: The right way to compare dollars to impact.
5. It’s not about your nonprofit.
It’s about the donor.
As fundraisers, we can fall into the trap of talking about the amazing things our organization is accomplishing. Or all the great things that are happening because of our work.
But if you want to retain year-end donors, you need to understand that it’s not about you right now!
You will need to be donor-centric with your thank you’s to secure long-term support.
And remember, you’re not thanking your donors just for giving money. You’re thanking them for their role in making the world a better place!
READ MORE: Why do donors disconnect from your mission?
6. Open doors for engagement.
Let’s clear up a common misconception in the world of fundraising. There is no set amount of time you need to wait before you ask for a second donation. And if you’ve put in the effort to go above and beyond with your thank you’s and related messages, donors won’t necessarily be turned off if you ask for another gift.
Some nonprofits make their donors feel like an ATM with another appeal in the spring. But that only happens if you ask again and again, without other communications in between!
And this doesn’t have to just be another monetary donation. Signing up as a volunteer is another great sign a donor sees the value in your nonprofit’s work.
Don’t ignore other signals, such as consistent clicks in your emails, filling out your survey, or following you on social media after a donation.
Remember, engagement precedes action!
Breaking it down.
We can go on and on and come up with fun ways to thank donors all day. But it’s usually best to make things simple.
There are two main things to know if you want to retain year-end donors:
- You need to go above and beyond to make donors feel special with your thank you’s.
- If you’re successful in step 1, donors may be ready to give again sooner than you’d think.
Or, you can click here to chat with an amplifi development strategist to get more ideas about retaining your year-end donors!
