Case Study: How a Small Charity Keeps Growing Its Monthly Donor Base
As you may know, I love hearing from nonprofits. That’s how I learn. And that’s how I believe we all learn together. And I’m always amazed, especially at how small nonprofits keep growing and doing more — even with few resources. I think the biggest asset they have is the conviction, the belief that they […]
What If Checks Were Going Away?
As a Dutch native and international fundraiser, who grew up with a central banking system, automatic payments and payment forms called acceptgiros, I’ve been following some recent payment trends. In the next few years, the Netherlands and several other European countries are planning to do away with acceptgiros, which are somewhat equivalent to checks. The Netherlands […]
Nonprofits Should Make Donating Easier Amid Cost of Giving Crisis
We’re not alone in experiencing food, gas and other prices going up. And, as fundraisers, we should be concerned about the impact on giving. I’ve been following the great Donor Pulse quarterly trend analysis for a while now. U.K-based Enthuse did the research and recently released the spring 2022 edition to address this concern: “There is no doubt that […]
How Do You Get Your Board on Board With Monthly Giving?
Someone from a nonprofit recently asked me to address one of its organization’s biggest challenges with monthly giving: How to get its board on board with monthly giving. I’m baffled that board members still need to be convinced that monthly giving is a thing and that monthly giving is a great way to provide ongoing […]
Is There Room for Monthly Giving in Your Fundraising Appeals?
Earlier this week, a copywriter friend of mine asked a great question. And I’m sure many of you are struggling with this same predicament. Here’s her question: Often a strategy calls for including so many offers in one direct mail fundraising appeal — the basic ask, maybe a matching gift, sometimes a push for monthly […]
How Can You Better Understand Your Donors?
As you know I’m focused on working with nonprofits to help them grow their individual donors and monthly donors to higher levels. That’s why I’m always on the lookout for new statistics and trends in giving, especially for those groups. Needless to say, when I heard about a wonderful new study from Neon One, called “Donors: Understanding […]
Even a Tiny Gesture Can Make Monthly Donors Feel Special
Recently, I presented at the Faith and Fundraising Conference in Milwaukee for about 400 in-person attendees. It was so wonderful to see people I hadn’t seen in a few years. Everybody had to show either proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test. Attendees indicated how comfortable they were with interacting with others through a small dot […]
5 Ways In Which Sustainers Differ From Subscribers
There have been several discussions about subscription giving and sustainers. In my view, some aspects absolutely apply, but not all of them. First, let me tell you that I have a subscription background. I organized the loyalty condensed book program at Reader’s Digest in Amsterdam. I had to calculate conversion rates and specifically how many […]
Can You Upgrade Your Monthly Donors to Higher Levels?
The smallest deed is better than the grandest intention.” This anonymous quote is yet another example of my theme of the last few weeks: It’s not about the size of the monthly gift amount. It’s about the fact that you’re giving your donors the opportunity to make a difference in an amount they can afford. You […]
The Difference a Quarter Could Make in Monthly Giving
Besides being a monthly donor to a number of nonprofits, I’m also a huge bargain shopper. Always checking for the latest deal and where best to stock up on those essential staples. So, when Aldi stores came to the U.S., I was all excited. It’s a great place to find some international foods, Dutch cheese, […]
