Comments on: Acknowledging Donor Loyalty http://www.theagitator.net/dont-miss-these-posts/acknowledging-donor-loyalty/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=acknowledging-donor-loyalty Fundraising and advocacy strategies. Trends, tips ... with an edge Tue, 22 May 2012 16:17:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Charles Langley http://www.theagitator.net/dont-miss-these-posts/acknowledging-donor-loyalty/comment-page-1/#comment-24327 Charles Langley Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:58:29 +0000 http://www.theagitator.net/?p=1400#comment-24327 This is a great point about reminding loyal donors of past accomplishments. I will use this. We've routinely mentioned the date of initial membership in our messages (i.e. Thank you for beeing a loyal supporter since 1998)and our meembers really appreciate it. Lately we've added this twist when sending updates to long-time donors who have reached certian financial benchmarks: Did you know you are just $X dollars away from being a LIFE MEMBER? This really boosts response and donation amounts. In adddition, it seems that once somebody becomes a Life member, they actually start donating more. I'm not allowed to say how much ... but it is a lot. This is a great point about reminding loyal donors of past accomplishments. I will use this.

We’ve routinely mentioned the date of initial membership in our messages (i.e. Thank you for beeing a loyal supporter since 1998)and our meembers really appreciate it. Lately we’ve added this twist when sending updates to long-time donors who have reached certian financial benchmarks: Did you know you are just $X dollars away from being a LIFE MEMBER? This really boosts response and donation amounts. In adddition, it seems that once somebody becomes a Life member, they actually start donating more. I’m not allowed to say how much … but it is a lot.

]]> By: Niels http://www.theagitator.net/dont-miss-these-posts/acknowledging-donor-loyalty/comment-page-1/#comment-24217 Niels Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:54:59 +0000 http://www.theagitator.net/?p=1400#comment-24217 Tom, it amazes me how many blog posts, book chapters, lectures, email campaigns, are dedicated to this basic message: thank someone. There is never enough thanks to go around and always enough reason to keep reminding ourselves that success lies in doing the obvious and simple things first, well, and sincerely. Tom, it amazes me how many blog posts, book chapters, lectures, email campaigns, are dedicated to this basic message: thank someone. There is never enough thanks to go around and always enough reason to keep reminding ourselves that success lies in doing the obvious and simple things first, well, and sincerely.

]]> By: Angie Weldy http://www.theagitator.net/dont-miss-these-posts/acknowledging-donor-loyalty/comment-page-1/#comment-24213 Angie Weldy Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:42:01 +0000 http://www.theagitator.net/?p=1400#comment-24213 My department sends a handwritten thank you note for every tribute gift given and every gift from a mail campaign. Yes, this includes the occasional $5 check. We've only been doing this for a few months but we think it will be worth it. My department sends a handwritten thank you note for every tribute gift given and every gift from a mail campaign. Yes, this includes the occasional $5 check. We’ve only been doing this for a few months but we think it will be worth it.

]]> By: Jessica Harrington http://www.theagitator.net/dont-miss-these-posts/acknowledging-donor-loyalty/comment-page-1/#comment-24209 Jessica Harrington Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:25:20 +0000 http://www.theagitator.net/?p=1400#comment-24209 We’re absolutely doing this! For one organization’s first renewal, we personalized the letter to the year the donor first joined and what was happening then (e.g., if the donor joined in 1980, he/she were supporting the organization’s Call to Halt the Arms Race … or, when a donor joined in 2008, they were supporting the counter-recruitment movement) and then the key milestones the donor helped achieve since they first contributed. We didn’t just pull out a date or reference a package – the customization was several paragraphs long and really took the donor through the organization’s history and the donor’s involvement and recognized that none of this could have happened without them. Of course, the key was linking the past accomplishments and donations to why their support was need today, in 2010. We think we did that—revenue is up 54%! We’re absolutely doing this! For one organization’s first renewal, we personalized the letter to the year the donor first joined and what was happening then (e.g., if the donor joined in 1980, he/she were supporting the organization’s Call to Halt the Arms Race … or, when a donor joined in 2008, they were supporting the counter-recruitment movement) and then the key milestones the donor helped achieve since they first contributed.

We didn’t just pull out a date or reference a package – the customization was several paragraphs long and really took the donor through the organization’s history and the donor’s involvement and recognized that none of this could have happened without them.

Of course, the key was linking the past accomplishments and donations to why their support was need today, in 2010. We think we did that—revenue is up 54%!

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