How Would You Know?
The latest issue of Non-Profit Times reports reveals that the #1 factor for donors contributing long term to an organization — selected by 35% of respondents — is that “the organization is well managed and your money is well spent.”
OK. Seems like a no-brainer? Our question is: How would your donor know?
How well does your organization communicate its effectiveness in terms of achieving results? How would you rate your organization's financial transparency?
And getting to a touchy area where the rubber meets the road, do you ever assert that your organization is doing a better job than the “competitor” down the street? Why not? Can you not provide evidence for such a claim? Do you consider such a claim impolite or impolitic? Perhaps you should get over your qualms and re-craft your case. Because, make no mistake, the demand for accountability is ascendant. Why?
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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