Got Any Checklists?
I love checklists. Especially other people's. I'm speaking not so much of the “today's to do” type of list, as I am the “make sure you've done this” list.
Like the “20 things your mail package must include” list or the “10 questions to ask before you send that email appeal” list.
Very practical. High utility. Can be deep in the weeds, or 50,000 feet up in focus.
I especially like to see those lists created by folks who have been around the track alot.
Have you collected any? Send them to The Agitator … we'd love to publish them.
Here's an old one of ours … Top ten things fundraisers should monitor.
1. New donor bonding rate
2. Lifetime value by source of donor
3. Costs of funds raised
4. Incremental online revenue
5. Donor base “capitalization”
6. Your reserve pool
7. “Best donor” satisfaction
8. Transparency of reporting
9. Your competition's marketing
10.The news
OK, that one's a bit cryptic. But we've elaborated it into a white paper, which you can download here, or from the white papers section of our homepage.
Here's a checklist we did for fun awhile back … 12 Factors NOT to consider when evaluating the effectiveness of a nonprofit.
And here are two from list builder and marketing maven Guy Kawasaki. One on the Art of Schmoozing. And another on Making Ideas Stick.
Hope you have some checklists you'll share with us.
Tom
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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