Don’t Ask … Thank
As the Thanksgiving break approaches in the U.S., doubtless thousands of fundraisers are frantically making their final preparations for #GivingTuesday, which occurs next Tuesday, the 29th.
As faithful Agitator readers know, this is not an occasion high on my personal priority list!
However, in the spirit of service to our fundraising community, I will bite my tongue this year and simply offer two suggestions.
First, if you’re still struggling with your #GivingTuesday plan for next week, check out this infographic from Mobile Cause (PDF here).
But better still, take this great suggestion made last year by Claire Axelrad … don’t ask next Tuesday, make it a ‘thank you’ day instead. Apart from the inherent value of that much-deserved donor recognition, I suspect your nonprofit will stand out from the crowd of ‘askers’ in all those email in-boxes on Tuesday!
This year, be a thanker, not an asker.
Tom
2 responses to “Don’t Ask … Thank”
Behavioral Science Q & A
Integrating an individual giving appeal with other communications from a charity can have both positive and negative effects, and the outcome largely depends on how it’s executed. Advantages of Integration Brand Consistency: Maintaining a consistent appearance and messaging across all communications can reinforce the org’s brand identity and strengthen brand recognition and trust among your […]
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I’m not aware of any in-market tests specifically comparing recurring vs. gift frequency language. I suspect the answer might not be the same with all gift frequencies, nor with all people. It sounds like a great opportunity for you to test and find out what works for your audience. Based on the literature, here’s a couple […]
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Based on what we know from existing data, those renewal notices can actually be pretty effective in getting people to donate. They tap into our psychology – creating a sense of urgency, reminding us of past support, and using personalization to make the message hit home. They’re playing on our natural tendencies to feel obligated […]
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Interesting question. I had a quick look at the testing done on this topic. On the positive side, in all cases, over half of donors decide to cover the fee. In some cases, it goes as high as 65%. Not a negligible percentage at all. Here’s another test from iRaiser showing consistent results (see point […]
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There’s just one thing to consider when designing a supporter journey: the supporter. More specifically, you need to take into account: Who the supporter is i.e. their identity, which is the reason they support this cause, and their personality, which describes the way they “see” and process the world. These will determine the kind of […]
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I’m not an expert in this but a quick search surfaced this article on the effect of tax reforms on 2019’s charitable giving. The researchers didn’t find a reduction. Actually, they observed an “increase in charitable contributions in 2019, even with the lower tax rates and the dramatically smaller number of taxpayers who itemize their […]
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Thank YOU Tom. I always love it when people agree with me! [Though I think you meant the ‘great suggestion’ link to go here http://www.clairification.com/2016/10/09/quick-nonprofit-guide-givingtuesday-jujitsu/ or here http://www.clairification.com/2015/10/13/givingtuesday-or-gratitude-tuesday-choose-how-youll-roll/%5D. With gratitude for all you share. 🙂
Tom, you’ve perfectly summed up my feelings about #GivingTuesday, and in far fewer words than I would have taken! 🙂 If a charity feels it must do something on #GivingTuesday, Claire’s suggestion is the perfect one.