Connecting Donors to your Cause

Donor Recognition

So you are about to get your

list…Then what? • If you haven’t touched the list yet…pick it up and

DO SOMETHING TODAY!

• Quick action: – Formal or informal thank you note– whichever is

faster • Get the plan for the formal version in play

– Scan the list… Who do you know? Who does your team know? Who don’t you know?

• Tools: conversation, database, email

– Enter them into your database • What did you just learn? Who will you share that info

with? How will you use it to be a better steward?

– How can the board get involved? Staff? Others?

– What’s next…?

Property of The Foraker Group 2013 2

Property of The Foraker Group 2013

Expectations of Time

• 30% Research

– Your Case

– Constituency identification

• 30% Relationships Building

– Education (mission connect)

– Communication- LISTEN

• 10% Request

– All ways: face-to-face, mail,

phone, web, events,

proposals

• 30% recognition / reporting

– Strategic and consistent

Relationship

Building

Request Recognition /

Reporting

Research

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Recognition Guidelines

• The goal of a recognition plan is to reconnect the donors to the mission and impact of the gift and/or the organization overall

– Money is not the destination – weave every effort back to mission and goals

• A gift to you is really a gift through you into the community

– People give to you because you meet needs, not because you have needs

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Donor Recognition System

Say “thanks” immediately and often

– Use the phone, technology and the mail to stay in touch

– Have different parts of the organization say “thanks”

– Best Practice: • Every gift should have 7 acknowledgements

• First acknowledgement within 24-48 hours of the gift


Donor Recognition System

• Articulate the benefit to donors

– Match your acknowledgements to the donor level

• Privileges – that others don’t get

• Opportunities – that others don’t get

• Access to information or to people


Recognition: Giving Levels

• Names should be hierarchical but not insulting • Giving levels

– Donor focused – Mission related – Meaningful – Affordable – Manageable – Fun

• Determine the method to celebrate the levels • Determine the benefit to donors?

– Match your acknowledgements to the donor level



Recognition through Involvement

• Offer opportunities for an emotional and/or physical connection

– Invite donors to participate actively in the mission

– Create a venue(s) for donors to tell their stories

• SHARE and INSPIRE others with them

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Involvement: some ideas • Share an article- highlighted- signed

• Heads-up when you are going to be in the news

• Ask for an in-kind contribution that it is a no-brainer

• Host a house party

• Attend meetings

• Make calls

• Give input

• Co-host a gathering

• Join a committee

• Help solicit and/or build relationships with other donors or prospects

• Tours, lunches, presentations, interaction with clients (where appropriate) and/or staff, small group sessions and individual opportunities for special attention

• Publications, PR, newsletters, E-outreach, websites

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Use “YOU” • Don’t make the common mistake of having

the letter or newsletter or communication be all about the organization – All too often the donor is mentioned as if they

are a “walking checkbook. ”

– Focus on the donor as creator not just funder

• For example:

“The organization is great – thanks for the money”

Try instead…

“You are changing lives. Together we are making the world a better place.”


Steps to writing a donor recognition plan 1. Know your audience

– Who are they? (new or renewing or upgrading)

– What do they need/want to know?

– What do they want/need to do to get connected?

– What feels good?

2. Articulate your giving levels

3. Determine your existing opportunities – Weave recognition into mission and values opportunities

– Start with your strengthens

4. Determine who will participate from your team (board, staff, volunteers, participants, media outlets etc.)

5. Know your story and key messages

6. Write it down

7. Celebrate it with first internally and then externally


Level Level Name Recognition/stewardship

$25,000+ Mission Adapter Invitation to attend a mission moment experience with a board member

$10,000 Mission Mentor Donors are publically acknowledged at signature event*

*If event exists already.

$5,000 Mission

Connector If Corporate: logo listing on printed and electronic materials

Handwritten card from mission participants enclosed with acknowledgement

$1,000 Mission Convener Board members host donors at ------ events

Invitation in connection to board celebration one time per year

$ 500 Mission Networker

Update sent to donors about mission moments and other pertinent info. (inside track)

Alpha list on printed materials

<$250 Mission Partner Personalized phone call to each donor by board member

Personalized letter signed by board president and executive director

Formal note card signed by Executive director

Alphabetical listing on electronic media

Donor Recognition Plan (The goal of a recognition plan is to reconnect the donors to the mission

and impact of the gift and/or the organization overall)

The following are overall implementation notes for the donor recognition plan.

• Plan is cumulative in scope

• Recognition is at the donor’s discretion

• All donors are added to mailing list unless otherwise requested

• Donors can opt for anonymous listing

• Acknowledgment starts no less than 24 hours after receiving a gift

• Create special acknowledgement opportunities for Pick.Click.Give. donors

• Create special acknowledgement opportunities for marketing/printing underwriting

Example

(Remember the example focuses on donors above $250. Most plans will not start at this number):



Inspiration/ Stewardship: Keeping Donors

• Stay in touch – Connect your donors to the results of their gift

– Inspire them with your organizational goals

• Keep on investing in relationship: connected engaged, informed – Involve your donors

• Provide follow-through: Be sure always to do whatever you have told the donor you will do

• Commit your organization to donor service – Commit the necessary resources to make donor service

work

– Understand that donor service requires a total systems approach

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6 Tips to Success 1. Make it easy for the donor and manageable

for the organization

2. Make it meaningful to the mission and to the donor

3. Make it time limited

4. Know your next step

5. Write it down

– If it isn’t written down, it doesn’t exist

– Put your plan in as many forms as necessary to keep everyone on track

– Make it a “living document”

6. Have FUN!


For More Information

www.pickclickgive.org

Contact Us, Search function, information for donors and organizations

www.forakergroup.org [email protected]

(907) 743-1200 • toll-free (877) 834-5003

Educational Opportunities, Organizational Development, Shared Services, Advocacy


http://www.pickclickgive.org/

http://www.forakergroup.org/

mailto:[email protected]

Connecting Donors to your Cause

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