Let’s face it, our donors are not ATM machines, nor should we treat them as such.

These days the average thank you, well, won’t do the trick alone.

Don’t you think for all that our donors make possible, that they deserve so much more?

Here are some questions to ask yourself and your non-profit organisation:

• Do you only communicate with your donors except to ask them for money?
• Do you ask for an additional gift as soon as you receive the last one?
• Do you include a postage-paid reply envelope with every gift acknowledgement?

Wrong, wrong, and wrong!

I know some may recommend such hearty and aggressive practices, but, put yourself in your donor’s shoes.

Fund development is about building long-term sustainable relationships.  It is just not enough to ask them for money.

Donors today want to know how their investment in you and your organisation is making a tremendous difference and having a great impact.

Here are some ways you can begin to do that within your program:

• Call your best donors and thank them them personally, no ask!
• Make sure that your chief executive or chair of the board signs your letters.
• Develop a “chatty” insiders newsletter that is mailed exclusively to your best donors.
• Send some great story about your organisation to your donors with a small note.
• Have an open house at your organisations and invite your donors.
• Host twice a year conference calls with your top executives for your donor.

And, with technology today, you can do even more!  Ideas such as thank you videos on You Tube, donor stories on your Facebook page – well you get the idea!

What are some of yours?