Donor Relations

Your nonprofit seems to have trouble retaining its donors. What can be the problem?  Janet L. Hedrick’s new book, Effective Donor Relations, might be able to provide some answers. Perhaps your nonprofit needs to think more carefully about acknowledging gifts, recognizing donors, and improving stewardship practices:

-How long does it take for your nonprofit to mail a written acknowledgement? Two weeks? Hedrick suggests that your “thank you” should be sent within 48 business hours.

-How do you recognize your donors? There are many different options, including newsletters, annual reports, donor walls, gift clubs, naming opportunities, and recognition events.

-Be sure to tell your donors how the funds have been used and report the results of your organization’s work.

Look for numerous tips and examples in Effective Donor Relations, a volume in the AFP Fund Development Series (John Wiley, 2008).

Click here to search the Catalog of Nonprofit Literature for other books and articles on donor relations.