DonorExpress NewsLine

Hello From DonorExpress Software
This newsletter is a publication from the staff of DonorExpress Software. Our intention is to share with our DonorExpress users and other interested organizations valuable operational information along with TIPS on how to better use our software. We hope that you will look forward to receiving this newsletter. Please feel free to respond back with suggestions for future issues. Comments

Interesting Facts To Ponder
This month Carol Kresson, VP of Development for Hospice of the Upstate in Anderson, SC shared with me the following facts according to The Independent Sector, a group that studies trends in giving and volunteering.

• Corporations give 5% of the charitable contributions in the US annually
• Foundations give 10% of the charitable contributions in the US annually
• Individual donors give 75% of the charitable contributions in the US annually
  
  
• More than 80% of these individual contributions come from families with an annual income of less than $60,000.
• Studies show that 7 out of every 10 Americans give to one or more charitable causes every year.
• Based on this information, any development program that overlooks individual giving will most likely not be sustainable.

What Is Fundraising To You?
Most all nonprofit organizations live or die by the funding they receive from the generosity of those who give of their time and money. Successful fundraising always seems to be measured in terms of the amount of money generated by an event and if you are interested in that one event then this maybe a true measure. Perhaps it is time to look at the paradigm we have about the act of raising money. Fundraising should not really be all about the money. Fundraising is much more about relationship building. When you build a personal relationship with each of your supporters, their time and money will come along with them.

Why Do Donors Support Our Organization?
How often do you and your staff sit down and ponder this question? This could be one of the most important questions that needs to be answered before trying to establish a fundraising plan. Generally people support organizations that they have some kind of a connection to the service that the organization offers. The Humane Society is supported by people who love animals, Hospice is supported by people who have been touch by the care someone they know has received and so on. Supporters give because of the relationship they have with an organization and not because of a cleverly worded appeal letter.

Creating A Relationship With Donors.
The main goal of your fundraising efforts should be focused on creating a long term relationship or bond with the type of people that your organization serves. This relationship building should be reflected in all communication or contacts with potential supporters. Any donation response letters or donation appeal letters should be structured to express gratitude for support and explain how valuable each supporter is to the organization.

Keeping Givers Giving
Supporters need to feel needed. Supporters want to feel that they are special. Supporters want to be involved and to make a difference. By recognizing the wants and needs of your supporters enables you to meet their needs and build on your personal relationship with that person. Make each donor or volunteer an ambassador for your organization and feed them the information they need to spread the good news about your organization. You can insure the loyalty of a person with their time and money by focusing on the long term relationship with each individual person.

Summary
Fundraising is about relationship building with supporters. Keep in mind that the goal is to give each person an opportunity to be involved with your organization as a volunteer and/or a donor. All campaigns or correspondence to contacts in your database should be with the intentional purpose to make them feel apart of your family. Adopt an attitude of partnership with your supporters and the money will follow.

DonorExpress TIP Of The Month
Every organization tries to thank donors for their contributions but when was the last time you really took a look at your Thank You Letters. I personally have several organizations that I give to regularly but when the thank you letter comes, I already know what it will say before I open it because it has not changed in years.

Your organization is going to spend $.39 to mail a thank you letter to each donor. Remember that we want every correspondence to inspire these donors to want to give again. Do not waste postage just to say Thank You when that same letter could contain current information about what your organization is doing or is about to do.

Review and update your correspondence regularly. I would suggest your letters be updated at least monthly. Surely some wonderful things have happen in the last 30 days that your donors should know about. Set up procedure where your response letters are reviewed the first of each month. Even if they do not change, at least you know what your contributors receiving.

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Thank you for your time and interest in DonorExpress™ Software.
Bob Holder
DonorExpress™ Software
PO Box 1126
Boone, NC 28607
828.264.2577
info@donorexpress.com
www.donorexpress.com