Snap Out Of It!
In his post Friday — Presidential Inauguration Day in the U.S. — Roger admonished us …
“My greatest concern today is for those who have become mired in fear, bogged down in some naïve cynicism, intent on tweeting and texting their shared disappointment and rage in a self-reinforcing loop of misery and despair.
Snap out of it!
Get to work. There’s hope to spread …
Among the most fortunate folks on this Inauguration Day are fundraisers.
Why? Because we have the ability — nay, the obligation — to face reality and tell stories. And we have an audience for these important stories — the donors, volunteers and other stakeholders who share our values. A far mightier army than most pessimists imagine.”
And guess what? Your boss took him seriously. That’s why she came into your office today and demanded a plan to increase net fundraising revenue by 20% in the coming year!
So, what are you going to do?
- Find more new donors?
- Squeeze some more special mail appeals (and umpteen email appeals) into your mail plan?
- Convert your social media followers into fundraisers?
- Do some wealth analysis on those $500-$2500 dollar donors you know you’ve been neglecting?
- Plan a fundraising event?
- Overhaul the appeals and donation pages on your website?
- Put your monthly donor recruitment program on steroids?
- Get serious about your donor retention efforts?
- Hope the major gifts shop comes through?
- Change (I didn’t say “lower”) her expectations?
The ‘correct’ answer probably varies by nonprofit. And for some, maybe it’s all of the above.
But keep in mind … she did say ‘net revenue’ … sounds like she wants more money to spend in 2017.
What should you do?
First … Snap out of it!
Tom
3 responses to “Snap Out Of It!”
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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Hi Tom and Roger,
I love The Agitator, but just wanted to politely point something out about the phrase “Snap out of It.” It’s a trigger phrase for many people who suffer from mental health issues, particularly depression. I myself have PTSD, and as soon as I saw that phrase I felt physically ill.
So, totally off topic, but I figure that if I’m having the reaction then others probably are too.
And if you ever want to have a chat about the prevalence of mental illness in our sector, and what we might be able to do to support each other, I’m in!
Leah
P.S. Also possible: I’m way out to lunch.
Hi Leah,
Thanks for bringing this effect to our attention. Was unaware. Sorry for any offence or discomfort caused to any Agitator reader.
Regards,
Tom
Thanks, Tom. A few people have reached out to me saying they have the same response as I do to the phrase, so I’m glad I mentioned it.
Leah