Jeff Schreifel’s suggestions condensed
1) Send 12 impacts from BB a year. These impacts would include: 4 direct fund appeals, 4 donor-centered newsletters and 4 ministry papers.
2) Re-activate lapsed donors and acquire new donors.
3) Analyse donor base further to determine which segments are performing.
4) Analyse donors and determine what they are giving to, how they were recruited and what compels them to give so often. This could easily be accomplished by delving into your donor software and by conducting a simple telephone survey. Our goal should be to increase this percentage each year as we also continue to bring on new donors to the organization.
5) Develop and implement Major Donor Strategy .
6) Redesign newsletter and make it more donor oriented toward accomplishing the following: A) Reporting Back—Donors want to know how their gifts are making a difference. You should always be reporting back on the programs that donors are funding and what is happening with them and tying it back to the donor’s gift. B) Thanking and Affirming donors—You can’t do enough of this. C) Informing—Here is an opportunity to let your donors know what is happening with staff, programs, etc. d) Needs—the newsletter should reiterate the ongoing needs of the organization and boldly ask for a gift of support. (jeff’s suggestions include: 4 page format, shorter articles, with more photos and graphics and include a reply device and return envelope.)
7) Create “transformational transcripts” or “ministry papers” with the sole purpose on providing continuing insights from your folks in the field that ministers to your North American donors.
8) Do two matching grant appeals per year.
9) Personalize funding appeals: Your appeal letters should be written to the donor as if you were writing a good friend. Each letter should state the problem and clearly articulate how the donor can make a difference with their gift.
10) “Play up” your seal of approval by Charity Navigator. In fact, I would put that information on all your communication pieces.
11) Place on every receipt year-to-date giving is printed along with the current gift. And, I would go even further to put lifetime giving on the receipt.
12) Change your receipt to 2-pages. The first page would be the letter and the second would be the actual receipt. This will give you more room to thank the donor and add more personal touches.
13) Brainstorm ways to include your donors and prospective donors more into that mission. For example, your Transformational travel activities should be stepped up and active recruitment from your donor base should be considered.
14) Facilitate donors recruiting their friends to give to BB. Make this easy for donors by providing the necessary materials and support to make this happen both in the mail and using your website.
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