Mr and Mrs … Kiss Of Death
Blogger Kivi Leroux Miller wants to be recognized when she’s a donor.
I don’t mean ‘recognized’ as in ‘applauded’.
I mean she expects, at least upon reaching some giving level, that a nonprofit to which she donates actually knows that she is a ‘she’ and, making the point that the 2010s are not the 1950s, that she’s not a mere appendage of her husband.
As Roger and I keep harping away, nonprofits need to get serious about customer service. which for nonprofits starts with knowing your donors. Remember this chart from Bloomerang?
Correct name spellings, correct addresses, correct salutations, etc. Can it be more basic?!
Tom
3 responses to “Mr and Mrs … Kiss Of Death”
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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Thanks for sharing the rant, Tom!
Got to meet Roger in person for the first time yesterday, which was a pleasure, naturally.
Love this. The best information — and solutions — are always the simplest. And the “simple” are often fraught with delicate details. Kudos on this conversation.
Thanks for sharing! I have always hated the outdated and sexist “Mr. and Mrs. John Doe” label, which as you suggest, is indicative of a larger institutional bias toward tradition over donor preference. Between you and Kivi, I now have proof that some of the biggest names in the sector back me up!