You send the email.
You make the call.
You follow up—politely, professionally, thoughtfully.

And then… nothing. No reply. No acknowledgment. No signal of interest or disinterest. Just silence.

For many fundraisers, donor silence feels personal. It triggers doubt. Did I say the wrong thing? Did I wait too long? Did they lose confidence in us? Should I push harder—or back off completely?

Here’s the truth most fundraisers need to hear—and hear often:

Donor silence usually has very little to do with you.

But what you do after that silence? That part matters a lot. This article will help you separate what’s outside your control from what absolutely isn’t—and show you how to respond in ways that build trust, loyalty, and long-term generosity.

Donor silence often has nothing to do with you

Let’s start by lowering the temperature in the room.

A donor’s decision to pause, delay, or disengage is far more likely tied to their personal life than to your performance as a fundraiser. Donors are human beings first, philanthropists second. And human lives are messy, unpredictable, and constantly changing.

People disappear for reasons that have nothing to do with your mission, your message, or your competency. They go quiet because life intervenes—sometimes loudly, sometimes quietly, and sometimes all at once.

Here are some of the most common (and invisible) reasons donors temporarily go dark:

• Holiday busyness
• A health issue or unexpected surgery
• Buying or selling a home
• Navigating a complicated tax situation
• Moving, downsizing, or relocating
• Caring for aging parents or family members
• Feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or emotionally tapped out
• Experiencing a season of major personal transition
• Family problems

Notice what’s missing from that list: you.

When donors stop responding, it’s easy to overanalyze or assume rejection. But more often than not, silence is simply a signal that life has become crowded. Your message didn’t land at the wrong time—it landed in the middle of something else.

The key lesson here is simple but powerful:

Don’t sweat the things you can’t control.

You cannot manage a donor’s health, stress level, family obligations, or emotional bandwidth. Trying to decode silence without context will only drain your energy and confidence. Great fundraisers learn to stay grounded when responses slow—and they don’t panic when they lose visibility into a donor’s world.

How to respond when a donor’s life gets disrupted

When a donor’s life becomes complicated, your role isn’t to fix it—or to fill the silence with pressure. Your role is to shift into empathy.

This is the moment where average fundraising behavior and exceptional fundraising behavior diverge. Some fundraisers push harder. Others disappear completely. The best fundraisers stay present without being intrusive.

Instead of escalating urgency or retreating into avoidance, respond with humanity. Acknowledge what might be happening. Offer patience. Make it clear that the relationship matters more than the transaction.

When donors feel respected during difficult seasons, something important happens. They learn that your interest in them isn’t conditional. That you value them as people, not just as check writers. And that kind of experience creates loyalty that no clever appeal ever will.

Ironically, the less pressure you apply in moments like this, the more trust you build.

But here’s the twist: you should sweat the things you can control

While donor circumstances are outside your control, donor experience is not. This is where accountability comes back into the picture—not as self-criticism, but as opportunity.

Many donors don’t stop giving because life got busy. They stop giving because something quietly eroded their confidence in the organization. Not dramatically. Not all at once. But gradually, through small misses and overlooked details.

Here are the most common reasons donors disengage that are within your control:

• They didn’t feel thanked in a meaningful way
• Their generosity felt taken for granted
• Communication was inconsistent or sloppy
• Impact was vague or never clearly shown
• Messages felt generic or mass-produced
• Follow-up was slow, unreliable, or impersonal
• You sent too many messages that started to annoy them

None of these issues are about money. They’re about experience. And experience is where great fundraising lives or dies.

Your job isn’t to control donor behavior. Your job is to control the quality of every interaction they have with your organization.

Become a standout fundraiser by mastering the controllables

Exceptional fundraisers don’t obsess over outcomes they can’t dictate. They obsess over execution they can perfect.

They understand that loyalty is built through hundreds of small, thoughtful moments—not one big ask. They know that donors stay when they feel seen, respected, and confident that their generosity matters.

Here’s where elite fundraising teams focus their energy:

• Upgrade donor communications by thanking promptly, writing personally, making thank-you calls, and avoiding generic language that makes supporters feel like a line item in a database.
• Demonstrate impact clearly and consistently, using real stories, emotional close-up photos, and tangible outcomes that connect the donor’s gift to meaningful change.
• Deliver excellent donor care, treating donors like partners, responding reliably, following through, and communicating with warmth and professionalism

This is where organizations quietly separate themselves from the pack. Most nonprofits are decent at asking. Far fewer are exceptional at stewardship.

When donors experience consistent excellence—especially in small things—they don’t just continue giving. They deepen their commitment. They advocate. They trust.

And trust is the most valuable currency in fundraising.

Happy donors become loyal donors

Donor loyalty doesn’t come from pressure. It comes from confidence. Every timely thank-you reinforces trust.

Every thoughtful update builds reassurance. Every personalized interaction reminds donors they matter.

The cumulative effect of these moments is powerful. Donors who feel valued don’t disappear easily. Even when life gets complicated, the relationship remains intact. They may pause—but they don’t detach.

This is why the small stuff matters so much. Sweat the details. Polish the experience. Show up consistently. Yes, it takes effort. Yes, it requires discipline. And yes, it may make you sweat a little. But the return is worth it.

Final thoughts

Great fundraising isn’t about pressure—it’s about presence. It’s about understanding when to lean in and when to give space. It’s about extending empathy when donors are navigating life, and excellence when you’re shaping their experience with your organization.

Don’t internalize silence that has nothing to do with you. Do take responsibility for every touchpoint you control. When you do both well, you don’t just raise more money. You build durable, respectful, human relationships—the kind that last for years.

And that’s what great fundraising has always been about.

The post Unresponsive Donors: A Smarter Way to Respond appeared first on Bloomerang.

Bloomerang’s latest national survey of 1,000 U.S. donors reveals a landscape full of opportunity for organizations ready to meet supporters where they are. These findings don’t just point to what’s changing—they point to what’s possible.

Because when nonprofits have the right insights, tools, and support, more is always within reach.

1. Younger donors are redefining why they give—and how they want to experience impact

Mission alignment still matters most for Americans overall (37%), and two-thirds of donors give because they want to feel like they’re making a difference (67%). But younger generations are rewriting the rules of what motivates generosity.

Gen Z gives for connection—real, human connection

• They’re twice as likely as Baby Boomers to give after a positive engagement with a nonprofit (20% vs. 11%).
• Only 51% say “making a difference” motivates them—far lower than Boomers (76%).
• And 21% have been inspired to give by a celebrity or influencer.

This isn’t apathy. It’s a signal. Gen Z wants philanthropy to feel interactive, communal, and emotionally aligned with how they show up in the world.

Millennials are driven by values—and validation

• 43% prioritize alignment with their personal values.
• 1 in 7 are motivated by recognition.
• And 1 in 7 have donated out of spite (to counteract a policy, person or organization they disagree with)—an unexpected reminder that emotion shows up in complex ways across giving decisions.

Older generations still anchor the sector

Baby Boomers and Gen X continue to be motivated by appreciation (21% and 16%). Their consistency is a reminder that stewardship grounded in gratitude still matters deeply.

What this means for nonprofits

Younger donors aren’t harder to reach—they simply want relationships shaped around insight and intention. With AI-enhanced tools, nonprofits can create recognition moments that feel personal, tailor journeys that reflect individual motivations, and surface the right stories at the right time. Connection isn’t luck—it’s guided by insight.

2. Digital giving isn’t emerging anymore—it’s the default

Donation sites (42%) and nonprofit websites (41%) lead as the top giving channels nationwide. Millennials in particular gravitate toward website giving (48%). But the most surprising insight?

Gen Z is twice as likely as Gen X or Millennials to donate via direct mail

This younger generation wants omnichannel, memorable engagement—not just digital-first touchpoints.

Meanwhile:

• Social campaigns are major drivers for Gen Z (24%) and Millennials (22%).
• Baby Boomers (2%) and Gen X (9%) participate far less.

What this means for nonprofits

Donor journeys are no longer linear—they’re a constellation of interactions. Every channel matters. Every touchpoint has potential.

AI can help nonprofits:

• Personalize website experiences
• Predict which channels will convert different donor groups
• Optimize donation flows in real time
• Reduce friction at every step

Digital isn’t replacing traditional channels—it’s amplifying them. The organizations that thrive will be those that welcome donors in, wherever they show up.

3. Donor trust is powerful—and perishable

Recurring giving remains a foundation of stability: 70% of Americans have given on a recurring basis, driven by mission belief (54%) and impact updates (22%). But younger donors pull back faster when trust erodes.

Gen Z is the most likely generation to stop giving due to loss of trust (14%). And they’re more likely than any other age group to disengage due to over-communication.

For them, trust is built through:

• Transparency
• Clarity
• Meaningful, timely communication
• Respect for their time and attention

What this means for nonprofits

This is where intelligent technology isn’t just helpful—it’s transformative.

AI can:

• Predict donor churn
• Calibrate email frequency
• Craft personalized impact updates
• Surface opportunities to re-engage supporters before they drift

Trust grows when supporters feel seen, understood, and appreciated. Bloomerang’s Giving Platform is designed to help nonprofits strengthen that connection with less guesswork and more confidence.

4. Americans want to be generous—and many can give more than expected

Even in a year marked by financial uncertainty, the desire to give remains strong:

• 75% of Americans say they’d give more than $1,000 if they won the lottery.
• Nearly half would give over $10,000.

Even though many families are feeling the squeeze, our data shows younger generations are more likely to have meaningful discretionary income. Seventeen percent of Gen Z report having $1,500–$3,000 left after essentials each month (vs. 13% of Gen X and 14% of Baby Boomers), and 6% of Millennials say they have $3,000–$5,000 left—compared to just 2% of Gen X and 3% of Boomers. As their earning power grows, so does the runway for future generosity.

What this means for nonprofits

There is abundance all around us. The opportunity lies in inspiring it. With more tailored messaging, frictionless giving experiences, and data-driven storytelling, nonprofits can unlock generosity that’s already waiting to be tapped.

The desire is there. The potential is real. The path is clearer than ever.

The bottom line: generosity isn’t shrinking. It’s shifting—and strengthening.

Our sector is entering a new era—one where donors expect more from the organizations they support, and nonprofits finally have the tools to deliver experiences that match those expectations.

The data tells a hopeful story: When nonprofits connect intentionally, communicate transparently, and steward thoughtfully, generosity grows.

This is why Bloomerang exists: To help nonprofits raise more, retain more, and ignite the relationships that fuel lasting impact. With insight, intelligence, and human-centered design at their fingertips, organizations can step into the next year with confidence.

Because the potential of purpose is limitless. And the future of generosity—your future—is brighter than it seems.

The post The future of generosity: what Americans are telling us about how they’ll give in 2026 appeared first on Bloomerang.

The journey is far from easy, as youth development organizations must navigate through challenges in funding, policy limitations, and cultural barriers. These, combined with the need to adapt to the ever-changing needs of the youth they serve, pose tall hurdles to organizations for building a future where every young person can reach their full potential.

Why youth development matters

For many young people across the globe, especially those from underserved communities, the path to adulthood is lined with many obstacles. From limited access to educational opportunities, social marginalization, and high unemployment rates, the challenges they face are systemic and deeply rooted. In specific regions, challenges are intensified when coupled with inadequate healthcare systems or a lack of access to resources.

Such systematic barriers leave youth vulnerable not only economically, but also physically and emotionally. These gaps are unfortunate and unjust. Access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities should be a basic right, not a privilege reserved for a certain few. Programs like Creating Doctors in Uganda by Girl Power USA serve to connect underserved communities with medical support and training, equipping the youth with capabilities to one day improve healthcare access in their communities. Programs such as these illustrate how investing in youth development can uplift local communities to build long-term, sustainable solutions for the future.

When we prioritize youth development, we are helping not only individuals but communities as a whole in the long run. Youth development NGOs are investing in a more equitable, inclusive future for all. Through training and mentorship, countless youth from diverse backgrounds gain the key to open doors for brighter tomorrows. Their long-term commitments can reshape systems and create societies where all youth can thrive and lead.

The role of youth development NGOs

At their very core, youth development NGOs can serve as support systems and as catalysts for long-term change. These organizations aid in bridging gaps between systemic inequalities, providing critical resources and guidance to help young people navigate challenges. When they find a way to overcome these hurdles, youth have the opportunity to reach their full potential and transform their communities without having to worry about economic struggles.

Youth development NGOs help meet basic needs

The most crucial role that these organizations hold is to ensure that underserved youth have equitable access to their fundamental rights. This includes, but is not limited to, their education, healthcare, and safety. By offering programs to meet these needs and support young people through navigating their obstacles, NGOs support their daily needs while simultaneously laying the groundwork for their long-term independence.

Connecting youth with role models

At a young age, mentorship and the right guidance are crucial to developing a strong mindset for the youth. With the help of these organizations, they get to reflect on their identities, understand themselves better, and figure out who they want to become. Invaluable connections can be transformative to many young people, as they offer guidance. When they see leaders they aspire to be, they can imagine futures they once thought were unattainable and strive towards them.

Building soft skills

Apart from immediate support, youth development NGO’s are also uniquely positioned to help young people develop many skills for them to thrive. From soft skills such as communication and empathy to hard skills such as tech literacy, these programs help equip them with the tools to navigate their real-world struggles. Moreover, youth development NGOs often inspire the cultivation of emotional intelligence and confidence, which lays the foundational work for future great leaders.

As many of these organizations are led and run by youth, they hold the ability to mold future leaders by instilling these life lessons and more. For instance, Girl Power USA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to create sustainable impact through communities and individuals, is operated by global youth spanning regions such as India, Kenya, and Uganda. Girl Power USA envisions a brighter future for underserved youth. By nurturing socially conscious leaders who are both ambitious and altruistic, they bring together bright minds for a better future.

Challenges and criticisms

Though they play a pivotal role in supplementing a brighter future, the organizations’ work is not one without any obstacles. The challenges these NGOs face are complex and less likely to be solved overnight. The issue of financial instability is the most common challenge faced by NGOs. Many of them rely on donations, grants, and short-term funding cycles that may pose a threat to their financial sustainability. Shifts in political priorities also create uncertainties that can either make or break the organization’s initiatives, making it difficult for them to project into the future.

A second prevalent issue is reaching the most marginalized youth. While they have the best intentions, youth development NGOs cannot always reach remote locations and navigate language barriers as easily as many would think. There is also the aspect of outdated or inadequate infrastructure to deliver services where needed most. In conflict zones specifically, operating ethically while considering safety becomes even more challenging.

On top of these two challenges, these organizations’ work often entails unlearning as a first step. Underserved youth who come from deeply patriarchal communities or conservative families may carry internalized beliefs with them. Most notably, values surrounding gender roles and self-worth are shaped by generations of social conditioning. A change in mindsets takes time, care, and sensitivity. NGOs often find themselves teaching new ideas while challenging the old ones with a gentle approach. The process in itself can face resistance from both the youth and the wider community.

Conclusion: investing in youth is investing in the future

Millions of young people hold untapped potential and hope for the world, waiting for the chance and access they need. Youth development NGOs are stepping in to fill these gaps, creating opportunities for representation and support for young people. They hold the promise of achieving long-term societal change for the better. Despite challenges, these organizations continue to show up, innovate, and uplift. Their work is not always easy to measure for success, but the impact they hold can be effective for generations. Now, more than ever, it is important that we stand behind this mission. Because when we invest in the youth, we are changing lives and shaping a brighter tomorrow.

The post How youth development NGOs are shaping tomorrow’s leaders appeared first on Bloomerang.

Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen donor trust!

Let’s review.

Summary: why this matters to donors

1. Small and mid-level donors will for the first time see a meaningful tax incentive even if they don’t itemize.
2. Itemizers, including mid-level and lower-level major donors, will face either strategic timing decisions or benefit from the new universal above-the-line deduction instead.
3. Major donors may bunch larger donations into single years to surpass the floor, itemize their deductions and maximize their tax benefit for that year (while taking the standard deduction in other years).
4. All donors may respond to well-timed and clearly messaged appeals—especially around the 2026 changeover.

Summary: why this matters for fundraisers

Tax law isn’t the primary motivator for most philanthropic gifts, but it does shape how donors think about their giving. Whether driven by passion, habit, or the desire to leave a legacy, the potential for a tax benefit has long played a role in when and how much people give. The new tax rules don’t just tweak the mechanics.

1. They reset expectations for donors at all levels.
2. That means your messaging matters more than ever in helping donors understand what’s changed, and what actions make the most sense now.

1. What donors will notice

Even if you don’t bring it up, many donors — especially those who itemize or give larger gifts — will be asking their advisors:

• “Will my gift still be deductible?”
• “Is it smarter to give more this year or next?”

If you don’t help frame those conversations now, someone else will. And it may mean you’ll lose a gift to another charity that stepped up and offered helpful guidance.

Here’s what’s likely to matter most to donors under the new rules:

1. What counts as deductible, and when.

• Itemizers will be newly aware that only giving above the 0.5% AGI floor counts. This could lead to:
  • Bunching gifts into certain years
  • Delaying or accelerating year-end giving
  • Scaling up gifts to meet or exceed thresholds

2. Whether they benefit at all

• Standard deduction filers now have a universal charitable deduction again — up to $1,000 ($2,000 for couples). This gives them:
  • A reason to give, even if they don’t itemize
  • A renewed expectation that their gift has tax value

2. Why it should matter to you

These aren’t just technical updates, they’re behavioral triggers. And that gives fundraisers two critical reasons to act:

1. Your donors may be ready to give more — if they understand the benefit.

• Before anyone can deduct charitable gifts, they first need to itemize their deductions instead of taking the standard deduction (which remains high under the new law). They may be able to reach this threshold by including charity, mortgage interest, state/local taxes, etc.
• Itemizers face new math in 2026. Even if they already plan to itemize, they’ll only be able to deduct the portion of their charitable gifts that exceeds 0.5% of their AGI. For example, a donor earning $250,000 would need to give more than $1,250 across all charities before any of it becomes deductible. Donors who aren’t sure if they’ll itemize, or whether their giving clears that floor, should talk with their tax advisor.

YOUR ROLE: Alert donors to tax changes and give clear, timely guidance that helps them connect the dots between their generosity and real financial benefits.

2. You’re competing for attention during a year of transition

Donors have limited giving capacity and lots of causes to support. If they’re weighing when and how to give, the organization that helps them navigate these new rules will stand out as a trusted partner — not just as a fundraiser.

YOUR OPPORTUNITY: Talk about giving strategy, not just donation amounts. Instead of asking, “Can you increase your gift this year?” start by asking, “Have you heard how the new tax changes might affect your giving?” Position yourself as a partner in thoughtful, effective generosity.

Who needs to hear what: tailoring your message by donor type

Consider segmenting donor communications to account for factors that may influence giving capacity. Break down recommendations based on giving level or type of relationship:

A. Major Donors or Planned Giving Prospects

• Likely to have advisors; become a partner in those conversations
• Focus on strategic giving (DAFs, appreciated assets, timing)
• Position your organization as proactive and collaborative

B. Mid-Level Donors

• May be aware of tax changes, but unclear on implications
• Focus on how to give smartly now to maximize impact
• Personalized outreach or segmented messaging could go a long way

C. Small or First-Time Donors

• Less likely to be driven by deductibility, but not immune to confusion
• Keep messaging simple and reassuring
• Reinforce impact rather than complexity

When you understand the distinctive impacts on different donor segments, and develop targeted strategies to inform donors of relevant tax law changes, you will be more likely to maintain and grow support — either because of, or despite, these changes.

IMPORTANT: You are not a tax, legal, or financial advisor. Always include a disclaimer advising people to consult with their own professionals regarding their personal situation.

Next steps

The law is new, and will have different impacts on different donors, but meaningful tax incentives for philanthropic giving remain. In fact, some are increased! So, don’t delay in reaching out to supporters to alert them to the changes that will matter to them most.

1. Update communications to reflect both 2025 opportunities and new benefits beginning in 2026.
2. Segment communications to best meet the different needs of small, mid-level and major donors.
3. Encourage high-net-worth donors to make strategic gifts to maximize their itemized giving this year.

This new law offers an opportunity to refocus your donor messaging. What’s not changing is your strategy of always leading with your mission and how the donor’s giving will make a real impact. Here’s a sample letter, provided by Stelter, you can use to customize your donor communications.

Keep in mind that while tax policy shapes the landscape of giving, it doesn’t define the heart of it. The desire to help others runs deeper than any deduction. Nonprofits that grasp how these policy shifts affect various types of donors — and tailor their outreach accordingly — will be best equipped to sustain and strengthen support, regardless of how the tax code evolves.

The post Donors are counting on you: start the tax reform conversation today appeared first on Bloomerang.

For fundraisers, this isn’t just a matter of staying informed; it’s a moment to step forward as a trusted source of clarity.

Donors will have questions about how these changes affect their giving, and if they don’t get answers from you, they may hesitate—or turn elsewhere.

As a philanthropy facilitator, it’s your job to plan your communications now, so you can help donors make informed decisions and continue supporting the causes they care about in the most tax-beneficial way possible. Helping them with tax information may also enable them to make a larger gift.

What’s changing: a clear, fundraiser- and donor-friendly summary of the tax reform

Congress has made significant changes to the tax code under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). While some elements of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) have been extended, others have been modified. Today, here’s what nonprofit fundraisers need to understand:

1. New universal above-the-line deduction: $1,000 / $2,000

The final OBBBA law reinstates an above-the-line charitable deduction (Section 70424), allowing non-itemizing taxpayers to deduct up to $1,000 for individuals or $2,000 for married couples annually – starting in tax year 2026. This is a notable change that has no sunset provision (as was the case with the 2017 Act). And gifts to donor advised funds are excluded.

Food for thought: This makes deductibility relevant again for small and mid-level donors who take the standard deduction. Now, they can additionally deduct a portion of charitable giving. So, this is something you can once again promote as an extra incentive for giving.

2. Standard deduction still high

The legislation makes permanent the elevated standard deductions introduced by the 2017 TCJA, with inflation-related adjustments. The standard deduction for 2025 is increased to $15,750 for single filers and $31,500 for taxpayers who are married and filing jointly. The new law also expands the “bonus” deduction for taxpayers 65 and older through 2028 (though it phases out at higher incomes — $175,000 single/$250,000 couple).

Food for thought: With a hefty standard deduction still in place, including a bigger seniors’ bonus deduction, many donors won’t itemize — potentially reducing the value they place on deducting charitable gifts. In fact, after the 2017 TCJA went into effect, households itemizing deductions dropped to under 10%. So, all your messaging around “tax deductible as provided by law” or “last chance to grab year-end tax deduction” will pretty much fall on deaf ears (with the exception of the additional above-the-line deduction – relatively small pennies for major donors).

Note: For donors who have donor advised funds (DAFs), the high standard deduction may encourage “bunching” — a process whereby donors give several years’ worth of contributions to a DAF in one year in which they itemize. This gives them the flexibility to recommend grants from their DAF over several years, taking the standard deduction in those years.

3. 0.5% floor on itemized charitable deductions

Taxpayers who do itemize will only be able to deduct the portion of their charitable gifts in excess of 0.5% of their adjusted gross income (AGI). This giving floor is new, and means smaller itemized donations have less tax benefit. Here’s how it works:

• Itemizers can deduct charitable contributions only after they exceed 0.5% of their AGI.
• Example: A taxpayer with $400,000 AGI would need to give more than $2,000 in a tax year before any of that gift becomes deductible.
• If they donate $2,500, only the $500 above the floor counts toward their itemized deduction.
• If they give $1,800, none of it is deductible, because it didn’t exceed the $2,000 threshold.

Food for thought: This floor effectively raises the bar for itemizers, particularly affecting mid- to high-income donors and potentially influencing their giving strategies. The way you message to them matters! You may wish to encourage donors potentially affected by this provision to accelerate their giving in 2025 — before the new law goes into effect. This is another place strategic bunching strategies may serve the donor well. Also, try something like “Starting in 2026, itemizers can only deduct gifts that exceed 0.5% of their adjusted gross income—so not all donations will qualify. But even if you don’t itemize, you may now deduct up to $1,000 ($2,000 for couples) under a new permanent rule. Ask your advisor how these changes could affect the size or timing of your gift.” 

4. New cap on the value of itemized deductions: 35%

This provision, a decrease from 37% (which is the highest federal tax bracket), impacts the donor’s tax savings. These two percentage points may not seem like a lot, and it applies to relatively few, but these few account for significant philanthropy. And note that the percentage point discrepancy will be higher in states with higher marginal rates. Recent research from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, commissioned by the Independent Sector, reveals this cap will reduce charitable giving by $41-61 billion over the next decade.

Food for thought: Donors in higher tax brackets may be well-advised to maximize deductions in 2025, before the 2026 changes take effect. Example: Let’s say a donor gives $300,000 and is in a 39.6% tax bracket. Under old rules, their donation might save $118,800 in taxes ($300K × 39.6%). Under the new rule, the maximum savings is $105,000 ($300K × 35%). That’s a $13,800 difference in tax benefit — not because they can’t deduct the gift, but because the value of that deduction is now capped.

Also of note: Donors must be mindful of adjusted gross income (AGI) rules, as any unused deduction amount rolled over to 2026 is subject to the 35% cap.

5. State and local tax (SALT) deduction cap increases: $40,000

For those with AGI under $500,000, the deduction cap for local taxes increases from $10,000 to $40,000 from 2025 through 2029. This could push more donors back to itemizing because when they add SALT to their charitable and any other deductions, their total may easily exceed the standard deduction.

Food for thought: This may potentially increase major gifts in high-taxed states (e.g., California; New York; New Jersey), especially from upper middle-income earners. This creates an incentive for donors to “bunch” several years’ worth of charitable giving into the 2025-2029 period to maximize their itemized deductions before the window closes and reverts to $10,000 again in 2030.

Summary

As sweeping tax reforms take shape, charitable giving rules are shifting in ways that could meaningfully influence donor behavior.

For fundraisers, these changes underscore the need to step up as trusted advisors. Donors will look to nonprofits for clear explanations and smart giving strategies — like bunching gifts, using donor-advised funds effectively, or timing contributions to maximize tax benefits. Helping donors navigate this new terrain is about deepening trust, demonstrating leadership, and potentially inspiring greater generosity during a period of uncertainty. Part 2 of this two-part article will explore: (1) Why this matters to donors, (2) Why it should matter to you, (3) How to tailor your messaging by donor type, and (4) Next steps to meaningfully refocus your donor messaging.

The post Tax deductibility is changing. Your donors need you to lead them through it. appeared first on Bloomerang.

However, you don’t need to dread creating your annual report! When well-crafted, this resource can be a vital tool for retaining and growing donor support.

This guide walks your organization through the process of creating a nonprofit annual report. Here’s what to expect:

• Nonprofit annual report FAQs
• Free nonprofit annual report template
• How to optimize your nonprofit impact report
• Tools for creating your nonprofit impact report
• 15 inspirational nonprofit annual report examples
• How Bloomerang helps nonprofits create stellar annual reports

57% of Americans say they have a high level of trust in nonprofits, more than any other sector. With a robust, informative, and transparent annual report, you can maintain a high level of trust with your donors, leading to long-term support for your nonprofit.

Wrapping up nonprofit annual reports

Your nonprofit’s annual reports will receive much more attention when they’re thoughtfully crafted, compelling, and well-designed. Ensuring that your report is engaging and educational for your supporters will go a long way in building stronger, long-lasting relationships.

The templates and annual report examples throughout this article should help your nonprofit get started making your annual report the best it can be. If you’re looking for more information about donor communications and effective nonprofit reporting, check out these additional resources:

• The ultimate donor engagement guide + top strategies. Your annual report should work in tandem with your donor engagement strategies to enhance your audience interactions. This guide offers top donor engagement tips and strategies.
• How to develop a successful fundraising strategy. As mentioned, your annual report must support your organization’s fundraising strategy and other strategic goals. Review this guide for more information about developing a solid fundraising plan.
• The 12 best donor management software options for 2025. Your donor management software can generate reports on fundraising campaigns and donor engagement efforts to fill your annual report with rich data. Use this guide to explore top donor management solutions.

The post 15 inspiring nonprofit annual report examples (+ template!) appeared first on Bloomerang.

Volunteer surveys allow nonprofits like yours to determine the effectiveness of their volunteer programs and the satisfaction of their volunteers. They also provide a positive touchpoint between volunteers and your nonprofit’s staff, which is crucial for engaging supporters over the long term. A study published in the Journal of Public and Nonprofit Affairs found that interactions with nonprofit staff members were a positive predictor of volunteer retention.

This guide explores the ins and outs of volunteer surveys, from the best questions to ask to top tips for making the survey process a success. We’ll cover:

• What are volunteer surveys?
• The benefits of asking the right volunteer survey questions
• Best volunteer survey questions to ask
• Volunteer survey best practices and tips
• How Bloomerang makes the volunteer feedback process simple

Volunteer surveys are an excellent tool for engaging volunteers and understanding their genuine opinions about your volunteer programs. To maximize the impact of these surveys, asking relevant questions to the right individuals is essential. Let’s begin!

What are volunteer surveys?

A volunteer survey is a list of questions sent to prospective, current, or former volunteers to gather their feedback and gain insight into various aspects of the volunteer program. These questionnaires allow you to understand your volunteers’ recent experience with any event or program and should be sent shortly after they have volunteered to get their immediate feedback.

When conducted effectively, volunteer surveys help your nonprofit improve various areas of your organization, including programming and recruitment efforts.

A study from the Do Good Institute found that nearly half of nonprofit CEOs see recruiting sufficient volunteers as a significant challenge for their organization, with many citing it as a “big problem” to find volunteers who are available during the traditional workday (38.4%) and possess the necessary skills (35.4%). Surveys are a valuable tool for understanding volunteers’ availability, skillsets, and other crucial information that will help you assign them to the right roles.

Questionnaires are also one of the best ways to empower your volunteers and demonstrate that their feedback matters, thereby boosting volunteer satisfaction.

Types of volunteer surveys

Let’s take a look at the different styles of volunteer surveys:

• Recruitment survey: A recruitment survey is sent to prospective volunteers or to those who have just signed up for a volunteer shift or training session. Use this type of survey to determine your new volunteers’ skills and interests and gather information about how they discovered your organization.
• Satisfaction survey: A satisfaction survey is sent to volunteers immediately after they participate in a volunteer opportunity. These surveys help assess how satisfied volunteers were with the volunteer experience and gather their feedback on what could be improved.
• Engagement survey: An engagement survey is sent to current volunteers at regular intervals, typically every six months or twice a year. Leverage these surveys to gather general feedback on volunteers’ engagement with your organization.

Remember, some volunteers may want to give anonymous feedback, so be sure to send the occasional anonymous survey. This format provides volunteers with an opportunity to offer honest feedback, which is highly beneficial for your organization.

The benefits of asking the right volunteer survey questions

Volunteer surveys can provide valuable insights into the state of your volunteer program. They can also make volunteers feel more comfortable expressing their honest opinions. Taking feedback from your volunteers through surveys demonstrates to them that you value their input and prioritize providing a positive, memorable experience.

Additionally, volunteer questionnaires provide insight into what’s working and what isn’t, enabling your program to continually improve by making adjustments based on your volunteers’ feedback. By sending volunteer surveys, you can:

• Gain valuable feedback on your volunteer program. You can adjust your volunteer program strategy based on the input from volunteers. For instance, if volunteers feel that your virtual volunteer opportunities aren’t very engaging, you can change your approach to offer more hands-on or interactive opportunities.
• Boost engagement and productivity. With a recruitment survey, you can engage volunteers from the moment they register and demonstrate your commitment to creating a valuable experience for them. The feedback you receive from volunteer surveys will enable your organization to improve and grow, ultimately increasing engagement and productivity. When your volunteers enjoy the opportunities you offer, they’re more likely to continue volunteering for a longer period.
• Express appreciation for volunteers. By asking for and incorporating volunteer feedback, you show volunteers that their opinions matter. Your volunteers’ experience is crucial, as they are the foundation of your organization—therefore, it’s essential to make them feel like their voices are heard.

Best volunteer survey questions to ask

So, what should you include in your volunteer questionnaire? It can be challenging to narrow down the list of questions you want to ask. Remember, the goal is to collect feedback on your volunteer program, the experience of volunteers working with your nonprofit, and what they would like to see differently next time. The best volunteer survey questions to ask should be relevant and easy to answer!

First, determine the type of volunteer survey you want to send. Then, select your questions based on the information you hope to receive. You can begin with a volunteer survey template that includes standard and straightforward questions, and then customize it according to your organization’s needs and the goals you aim to achieve with your survey.

We’ll guide you with some examples. Here are a few questions to ask for each type of volunteer survey:

Volunteer recruitment survey questions

1. How did you find out about our volunteer program?
2. What motivates you to volunteer with our organization?
3. What do you hope to gain from your volunteer experience?
4. Do you have any specialized skills that would support our projects?
5. What types of volunteer opportunities are you most interested in?
6. When is the best time of the week/day for you to volunteer?
7. How many hours are you looking to volunteer per week/month?
8. Are you comfortable with us conducting a background check?
9. Can we contact you for future volunteer opportunities?

Volunteer satisfaction questions

1. How satisfied are you with your volunteer experience?
2. Is there anything you would change about the experience?
3. How would you rate your volunteer training experience? Do you need more training to volunteer effectively?
4. What challenges did you encounter as a volunteer, and how can we help address them in future opportunities?
5. How much of a difference do you feel volunteering made?
6. Do you have any recommendations for how we can improve our volunteer opportunities?
7. Would you recommend our volunteer program to a friend?

Volunteer engagement questions

1. What is your preferred method of communication?
2. How often would you like to be contacted about upcoming volunteer opportunities?
3. Do you feel like a valued member of our organization? How could we make you feel more appreciated?
4. How likely are you to continue volunteering with future opportunities?
5. What motivates you to volunteer with us?
6. What skills do you hope to use or develop as a volunteer?
7. What was your most rewarding experience as a volunteer with our organization?

Remember, your survey questions should focus on the volunteer experience to keep them engaged with your nonprofit. These survey questions will help you find out how your volunteers perceive your organization and whether it’s offering the type of experience they had in mind.

Volunteer survey best practices and tips

1) Stay on topic.

If you have too many questions on different topics, it may convey to volunteers that your organization lacks a clear strategy or direction.

Choose your volunteer survey type, whether it’s a recruitment, satisfaction, scheduling, or engagement survey, and design your questions accordingly. This will help you receive effective, detailed feedback on one area, and your volunteers will also have a clearer understanding of the purpose of your survey.

2) Avoid biased or leading questions.

Keep your questions as neutral and objective as possible. You don’t want to sway your volunteers toward submitting an answer that they don’t really mean.

For instance, avoid questions like “On a scale from 1-10, how great is our volunteer program?” Instead, you should ask, “On a scale from 1-10, how would you rate your satisfaction with our volunteer program, with 1 being the least satisfied and 10 being highly satisfied?”

3) Ask for additional information.

Ask an open-ended question at the end of the survey for volunteers to submit anything else that’s on their minds. For example, you can ask, “What can we do differently in the future to improve your experience?” This type of inquiry gives your volunteers the space to mention any additional thoughts that came to mind while completing the survey.

4) Keep your survey short and to the point.

A lengthy or complex survey may deter participants from completing it. Keep your survey to fewer than 10 questions to achieve a higher response rate. The last thing you want is for your volunteers to feel frustrated and overwhelmed with too many questions.

5) Test your survey before sending it.

Have your nonprofit staff members test your survey by taking it a few times to ensure everything’s working correctly. Verify that any integrations, such as with your nonprofit CRM, work smoothly. Having multiple people review your survey can also help you avoid spelling and grammatical mistakes.

6) Send your survey to the right audience.

Ensure that you send your survey to the correct volunteers. For instance, you should only send your satisfaction survey to volunteers who have just completed a volunteer opportunity. In contrast, you should send your engagement survey to all volunteers to gain a wide range of perspectives. This ensures you send relevant questions to each volunteer segment, guaranteeing you receive the highest quality of responses.

7) Launch your survey at the right time.

Send your survey at a time when volunteers are likely to check their emails and have a minute to spare to fill out the form. For example, MailerLite’s email marketing study reveals that the highest email engagement occurs between 3 and 7 p.m., and that Monday is the day of the week with the highest average open rate. Of course, you should also review your own CRM and engagement data to identify patterns within your own supporter base.

8) Store your results using your volunteer management system.

Once your volunteers have completed your surveys, you can sort them based on general information, such as age or volunteer roles, to organize your data.

You can easily record your insights using your volunteer management software system. This will give you a reference point when planning future volunteer opportunities. It also allows you to better understand the feedback you received based on the demographics of your volunteers.

9) Thank volunteers for their participation.

Don’t forget to thank volunteers for filling out your survey. You can even offer an incentive, such as entering the names of all volunteers who completed the survey into a drawing for a special prize. Check out Bloomerang’s volunteer appreciation guide for more great ideas!

How Bloomerang simplifies the volunteer feedback process

With the help of Bloomerang Volunteer, you can organize and store all your data in one central location. This will help you understand your feedback better and identify patterns and trends.

Bloomerang Volunteer elevates the entire volunteer management process with features such as:

• Impact-focused reporting tools
• Simplified volunteer signups
• AI-assisted scheduling
• A volunteer mobile app
• Automated volunteer appreciation emails
• Milestone badges, shoutouts, and leaderboards for recognizing volunteer impact
• Built-in background checks

You can even use Bloomerang Volunteer to identify which volunteers would likely become donors to your cause. Personalize your outreach to these supporters and cultivate deeper relationships with our unified giving platform.

Wrapping up

Now that you’ve learned what volunteer surveys are and their benefits, examples of volunteer survey questions, and best practices and tips to help you thrive, it’s time to start brainstorming! Your hardworking volunteers donate many hours to support your cause, and their experience directly impacts the performance of your organization, which is why it’s crucial to collect their feedback.

If you’re interested in more information about how to optimize your volunteer management process, check out these additional resources:

• Volunteer engagement | Strategies for smart organizations. This article examines how your organization can ensure that every volunteer has a meaningful and positive experience through a well-planned volunteer engagement strategy.
• 18+ top volunteer management software picks for nonprofits. Interested in upgrading your volunteer management system for even greater volunteer engagement? Review the top tech solutions available to help make your choice.
• Your go-to volunteer management guide: tips for nonprofits. Explore this article to get up-to-date information, best practices, and guidelines required to manage your volunteer workforce successfully.

FAQs about Volunteer Surveys

The post 20+ Volunteer Survey Questions to Improve Your Program appeared first on Bloomerang.

Nonprofits that don’t adequately show appreciation for the hard work and dedication of their supporters will receive less funding in the long run because they’ll struggle to retain those supporters over time. 

Here at Bloomerang, we specialize in donor retention. Our team has studied the effectiveness of retaining donors rather than acquiring new ones, and that research guides our entire approach. Retention is the key to maximizing your fundraising strategy, and appreciation is at the root of that strategy. In this guide, we’ll dive into how your organization can create an appreciation strategy. Then, we’ll provide a list of ideas to help you say “thank you” to your generous supporters.

1. Why Does Donor Appreciation Matter?
2. The Foundations of Your Strategy
3. Donor Appreciation Ideas
   • Ideas for New Donors
   • Ideas for Recurring Donors
   • Ideas for Major Donors
   • Event Appreciation Ideas
   • Appreciation Gift Ideas

We’ll start with the fundamentals: the importance of donor appreciation and how it can inform your fundraising strategy. Let’s dive in!

Why Does Donor Appreciation Matter?

Saying “thank you” to individuals who do you the massive favor of contributing to your organization isn’t just polite; it’s also a necessity to acquire their long-term support and contributions.

Put yourself in the shoes of a supporter. You have found an organization with a mission that is near and dear to your heart. To help fund one of their main programs, you decide to give a donation of $100. It’s not a massive gift, but it’s still a substantial contribution to the cause! A week goes by and you don’t hear anything back from the organization. Then, two weeks go by—still nothing. At first you’re disappointed, but then you simply start to forget about the whole incident. The point is, you never give again.

This situation should never happen for your supporters. Dr. Adrian Sargeant conducted a survey about why donors stop giving. He found that 5% of one-time donors thought the charity didn’t need them, 9% had no memory of supporting, 13% never got thanked for donating, and 8% never had any information about how their gifts were used. Although some reasons are certainly out of your control, the ones listed above are within it. Here’s the complete breakdown:

• 5% thought the charity did not need them
• 8% got no information about how monies were used
• 9% had no memory of supporting
• 13% never got thanked for donating
• 16% passed away
• 18% thought the charity had poor service or communication
• 36% thought others were more deserving
• 54% could no longer afford to give

Most of these issues can be completely avoided if your organization is able to communicate effectively and show proper appreciation. 

Then, when supporters do stick around for your organization, you’ll make more money in the long run. It’s around ten times more expensive to acquire new supporters than it is to retain existing ones. Plus, over time, retained supporters tend to end up making larger contributions to your mission, resulting in additional revenue. You can see an example of this and the resulting revenue that accompanies a simple 10% increase in donor retention:

The main idea is that retention (and therefore more effective fundraising) is rooted in communication, appreciation, and gratitude, making a simple “thank you” message worth its weight in gold.

The Foundations of Your Donor Appreciation Strategy

The backbone of any successful donor appreciation strategy is data. Having access to the right data will not only help you to choose the right donor appreciation ideas for your audience but also help you to craft more meaningful and resonant appreciation messages for your supporters.

Therefore, as you begin crafting your appreciation strategy, analyze the profiles in your donor database to be sure you’re reaching supporters where they are and creating messages that resonate with them.

Analyze your audience

Using a dedicated donor database (especially one that’s designed with retention in mind), you can gather all of the information you need about your supporters to craft an appreciation message that will resonate well with them. Consider the segments of your audience and the levels of appreciation that should be attributed to each segment. For instance, you might not add your first-time donors to a donor recognition board, but that could be a great option for your major supporters.

When you start putting together your donor appreciation strategy, create slightly different plans for each of your various audience segments.

Choose your appreciation ideas

After you’ve considered your audience, start thinking of the different appreciation ideas that will best reach each donor segment. For instance, you might consider the following segments:

• When you segment by gift amount, you can choose different appreciation ideas for major and mid-tier donors and others for your lower-tier supporters. Remember that the larger the donation, the fewer supporters you’ll have to thank, which allows you to create more extravagant gestures, like phone calls or donor wall mentions.
• If you segment by recency, implement different appreciation ideas for your first-time donors and long-term supporters. Your first-time donor strategy will aim to achieve your second or golden donation, and you’ll likely act quickly, whereas you may spread out your appreciation for long-term supporters over time.
• When you segment your supporters by age, you can make some assumptions about the types of appreciation that your donors will enjoy. For instance, younger donors may appreciate a personalized thank-you video acknowledgement, while older donors may be more responsive to a handwritten letter.

We could go on and on with various segments, but the ultimate goal is to customize your appreciation approach based on your donors’ preferences and history.

Say Thank You

Remember that the whole purpose here is to say “thank you” to your supporters. Even if you send them a gift or feature their name on an appreciation board, you should accompany the gesture with a note that informs the donor of the gesture and actually say “thanks!”

The note should be personal, noting the supporter by name. You should also be sure to say exactly what the supporter did to earn your appreciation. For example, you might say something like:

Dear Jessie, thank you so much for your donation of $100 to the Save the Dolphins campaign. Your contribution will provide a fish dinner for 10 injured dolphins tonight! 

This note is personal, shows appreciation, and notes the exact donation amount and campaign the donor supported. The next element that you should be sure to include in this note is the impact of the contribution.

Show Impact

You can see in the example above that the nonprofit wrote what the $100 would accomplish for the mission. This is a key element of your donor appreciation strategy because donors want to know where their money is going. Remember the stat from before? 8% of supporters who stop giving do so because they don’t know where their money is going.

Showing impact allows supporters to understand that their money isn’t just a paycheck for your organization—it’s accomplishing something that will help further your mission. After all, your donors give to your mission, not necessarily to your organization.

Donor Appreciation Ideas

While these are by no means the only ideas available, they do present a summary of the potential options for your organization. You can use these as a starting point to begin building out your donor appreciation strategy as a whole.

For your convenience, we’ve split up the 22 appreciation ideas into categories so that you can jump to the ones most relevant to your needs:

1. Ideas for New Donors
2. Ideas for Recurring Donors
3. Ideas for Major Donors
4. Event Appreciation Ideas
5. Appreciation Gift Ideas

Let’s learn more!

1. Donor Appreciation for New Supporters

You work hard to acquire new supporters. It’s a shame to think that after all of the work and funds that you spent on the acquisition process, those supporters could simply give once and never again. If you’re able to retain them for the long run, their lifetime value with your organization will rise significantly.

The rate of supporters who donate for a second time after they’ve given once to a nonprofit is only around 20% according to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project. But once they’ve contributed this second donation (or the golden donation), the chance that they’ll continue donating to your organization rises to about 60%.

Therefore, your initial sign of appreciation for your new donors is incredibly important to retain their support for the long haul. We recommend creating a cultivation timeline for your first-time donors to show your appreciation, encourage them to get more involved, and eventually make your second appeal. You can see a sample of this type of timeline below:

As you can see, this timeline doesn’t simply provide a single opportunity to say thank you, but has several opportunities to do so. Therefore, you can incorporate multiple donor appreciation ideas in your own iteration of a new donor cultivation timeline.

Let’s dive deeper into four of the ideas that you’ll find on these timelines, each providing an additional opportunity to show donor appreciation.

Immediate Donation Receipt

Most of the time, donors will give their first donation using some sort of online platform. This is one of the virtual fundraising trends that will not disappear anytime soon, but will likely become stronger over time.

Set up your fundraising software so that a donation receipt is sent immediately after the contribution is received, whether it’s for a campaign hosted on a crowdfunding, peer-to-peer, or donation page. Craft this message to say an immediate “thank you” to the donor, also using their name and specific donation amount for personalization. It will also act as a confirmation that the donation was, in fact, received by your organization.

Follow Up Phone Call

Within 48 hours of a donor contributing to your organization, give them a quick call! This may seem like an outdated strategy, but it’s incredibly personal and allows you to make a personal and memorable connection through appreciation.

Create a script that your development team can follow during these follow-up conversations with your new supporters. Customize these scripts based on the segments of supporters who are being called. Then, make sure everyone is up to date on the latest donations so that they can make these phone calls in a timely manner.

Survey 

Surveys are a great way to both get your new supporters involved and to show your appreciation for them. It shows that their opinions matter and are an important part of your organization’s plans going forward.

Send a survey after you’ve called and had a couple of other interactions with each of your supporters. Then, be sure to ask informative questions that will also help you optimize the new donor experience for the future.

Additional Information About Your Mission

Donors don’t give to organizations—they give to missions. Showing your supporters the extent of your mission and the work that you do in the community is a great way to show them how their contributions make a difference.

Provide additional information about your organization through welcome packets, newsletters, and other resources. Be sure to discuss your various projects in the community to show the impact of the donations that your supporters make.

2. Donor Appreciation for Recurring Donors

Recurring donors give at a consistent rate, usually on a monthly basis. These supporters don’t necessarily need to be stewarded towards additional gifts on a regular basis. Every now and then, you may want to approach them. However, on the whole, you should steward them to keep them interested in your organization and your mission.

The key thing to keep in mind here is to not fall into the “set it and forget it” trap with your recurring donors. They should never forget about your mission. If they do, when it’s time for them to rework their personal finances, you might lose your valuable recurring donor!

A good recurring donation program provides consistent funding for organizations and increases the retention rate. You don’t want to lose these supporters!

Instead, show appreciation for your recurring donors by not asking for money. Instead, find other ways to involve these supporters and to show your appreciation for them.

Event Invitations

Host events that simply provide a “thank you” to your supporters rather than asking them to contribute to your organization. These events may be a luncheon, happy hour, or another opportunity to have a good time.

In addition, events are a great way to mingle with your supporters and create lasting relationships and connections with them. The invite shows that you care and the opportunity to network with them builds up relationships. You can read more about appreciation events later in this article.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering may not immediately sound like an appreciation idea, but hear us out! When you start a volunteer program, you give your supporters a chance for an up-close view of what your mission is accomplishing. While you can tell your recurring donors about their impact that they have on your mission, they’re more likely to develop a personal connection with your organization if they can see that impact as well.

Be sure to incorporate appreciation into the calls-to-action as you’re working with recurring donors to encourage them to volunteer. You might offer to meet after the volunteer experience for a happy hour or work appreciation into your recruitment messaging. For example, you might say, “Hugo, thank you so much for your gifts to Hope Rains, the campaign providing clean water to communities in need. If you want to meet those who have benefitted from your contributions, consider volunteering at this week’s water purifier assembly!”

Bonus! Your supporters who volunteer also may have the opportunity to increase their monetary contributions to your organization as well if they qualify for volunteer grants through their employer’s corporate responsibility program.

Program Updates and Communication

Just as your new donors want additional information about your mission as a whole, your recurring donors will want to know about the progress that your organization is making in the community. Be sure to communicate this progress clearly and consistently to your recurring donors.

Send email newsletters with updates about specific projects and post social media posts regarding the various activities your organization is involved with. Then, of course, be sure to say “thank you” to everyone who makes this progress possible. Be sure to keep in consistent contact with your recurring donors, always showing them their impact on the mission at hand. This lets them know where their money is going and allows you to give a specific “thank you” for their impact.

Thank You Letters

Do you have a leap of excitement when you check the mail and notice that there’s a letter in there for you that’s not a credit card or utility bill? We do too and so do your donors! Studies show that people also absorb and retain information better when they read it on paper than on a screen. This means that donor appreciation letters can make a splash for your supporters.

Write personalized letters that will capture your supporters’ attention. This shouldn’t replace an initial confirmation email or a digital thank you, but it does help solidify your strategy and provides another medium on which you’re showing your appreciation. To make sure these letters are personalized, leverage your donor segments and craft messages that each will find engaging. Then, ask your executive director or development officer to personally sign the letter.

Appreciation Gifts

If you’ve ever run a 5K for charity, you know that the most exciting part of the activity is receiving your free t-shirt at the end of the race. That t-shirt may even become your favorite one that you’ll wear until it has holes along the seams. You may not remember the exact amount that you paid for the race or your finishing time, but whenever you wear the shirt, you’re reminded of the organization and the mission you supported.

This is the reason appreciation gifts are so important and effective. While t-shirts are a classic option, they’re certainly not the only one. Branded merchandise and gifts of all shapes and sizes make for a great way to show your appreciation for your recurring supporters’ contributions. Plus, they’ll think of your mission each and every time they see the gift.

3. Donor Appreciation for Major Donors

Major donors make up the backbone of successful fundraising strategies. According to this article, $410 billion was given in philanthropy in 2017 and 49% of the funds donated were by the top 1% of donors. If that’s not enough, DonorSearch found that 88% of nonprofit funding usually comes from the top 12% of donors.

Because of this grand impact that your major donors have on your strategy, it makes sense that you should put a little bit more emphasis, time, and effort into appreciating them. The only thing better than a major gift now is another promised major gift in the future. Saying thank you is the first step to stewarding these supporters and cultivating additional contributions for the future.

Send Personalized Video Acknowledgements

According to GITNUX research, nonprofits that personalize communications see a 10-15% higher donor retention rate. Plus, statistics from NPSource show that about 57% of people who watch nonprofit videos go on to make a donation.

The takeaway here is crystal clear: personalized appreciation videos are a powerful tool for engaging donors more deeply in your mission and ensuring their long-term support.

Bloomerang makes creating personalized donor videos easy, with a simple three-step process:

1. Your fundraising team sees a special donation come in through the Bloomerang mobile app.
2. A fundraising team member or volunteer records a personalized video message to thank the supporter for their unique contribution.
3. The donor receives the video acknowledgement via email.

Your videos don’t have to be too long—a quick, 30-second to one-minute video that includes a genuine gratitude message from the sender is more than enough to make donors feel seen.

Send gratitude videos promptly (within 48 hours of the donor’s gift) to show supporters that your organization truly values them.

Publicly Highlight Major Supporters

While you’re bound to have some supporters who want to give anonymously, the majority of people appreciate being recognized for their contributions. Public recognition is a great way to give a shout-out to your most impactful supporters, plus it gives others a level to strive for.

You might decide to highlight a “donor of the month” on social media platforms or shout out to them at organization events so that you can give proper recognition to each of your major supporters who want this kind of attention. Be sure to check with them first before highlighting their story for the world to see. You could also highlight major donors in regular documents like your annual report. This allows you to tie the contributions made by these supporters directly to your success from the year.

Personalized Appreciation Letters

We mentioned that appreciation letters can be used for your recurring donors, but it’s also a great strategy to reach your major donors! While you may use segmentation strategies for your recurring or lower-level supporters to show appreciation, you should write completely individual letters for each of your major supporters.

You might decide to start with a thank you letter template to be sure you hit all of the important elements of this letter, but you should make sure the final version incorporates more personalized elements. For example, including information about your major donors’ motivations for giving is a great way to make a personalized connection with them.

Exclusive Event Opportunities

Again, events are a great way to get any of your supporters further involved with your organization and your mission. But major donors should have some preferential treatment given the level of their importance for your organization. Exclusive events allow your major donors to mingle with one another and with your team.

These events can be in conjunction with fundraising events (like galas), but it’s always good to have a healthy mix of both fundraising and stewardship events throughout the year. Therefore, make sure to include events in your regular schedule that will be exclusively available to your major supporters.

Gather Feedback and Insights 

Many of your major donors and stakeholders want some additional insight into your programming than you would typically give for your supporters. They also may want to give your organization additional feedback about your activities given the fact that they’re funding such a great portion of them.

Schedule meetings with your major donors and stakeholders to give them the opportunity to share their opinions about your organization’s current programming and activities. This gives you the opportunity to address any of their concerns, and it gives them the opportunity to also share their concerns and present new ideas for your team.

Donor Recognition Wall

Donor recognition walls are a classic idea to commemorate your major donors. Featuring their names on a physical or virtual wall allows you to share their involvement with the community, providing public recognition for their contributions.

Create an in-person donor recognition wall at your organization in a well-traveled location. This enables your supporters to see their own names on the wall as they pass by. Plus, other prospects and donors might see the names of major donors and feel incentivized to give in order to be recognized alongside them.

4. Donor appreciation event ideas

Earlier in the article, we’ve discussed the benefits of hosting donor appreciation events. The majority of events your supporters are invited to attend are likely fundraising-focused, meaning the hosting organization has an underlying motive to attain funds from the attendees. It often becomes an expectation for donors to give an additional donation during the event itself.

However, when you take a non-fundraising approach and don’t ask for money, you can focus solely on creating connections with your supporters and building on relationships. Essentially, events where you don’t ask for funds ensure the focus of the event is entirely on your supporters themselves, not their wallets.

At the core, these events are designed to build trust, respond to donors’ questions, and help demonstrate the alignment between your donors’ interests and your organization’s mission.

There are some inherent risks to these events. You might receive some backlash about hosting events that have no immediate return on investment. You also can’t host too many of these events; usually just one big one will do the trick! These events will give you some ideas for how you can raise more by not asking for donations at your next event.

Donor luncheon or dinners

Who doesn’t love free food? Donor luncheons and dinners provide the perfect space and opportunity to enjoy a good meal while networking with supporters, encouraging them to mingle with one another, and say thank you for all of their contributions.

You might put together a short presentation or have a speaker chosen to give a group-wide “thank you” for the contributions made to your organization over the year. Depending on your donor management software, this can be a breeze to set up or take some time. Be sure to also include updates about the nonprofit’s progress and impact of gifts to take this presentation further.

Virtual facility tour

Essentially, a lot of the ideas that you could use for your virtual (or in-person) fundraising ideas can be taken to the stewardship sphere if you host them for free. A facility tour is a perfect example! Many of your donors, especially those who started donating during the age of social distancing, may not have seen your office space and work sites before. Showing them where the magic happens is a great way to say “thank you.”

For instance, if you’ve just finished a capital campaign that would help expand your office space, you might record a virtual facility tour that supporters can see so that they know what the campaign accomplished.

Happy hour

Happy hours are a great virtual or in-person way to relax and get to know your supporters. For less formal organizations, you might ask your supporters to meet you at a local restaurant or bar for a happy hour. Or, if you’re a part of a larger or more formal organization, you could even rent out a nice spot for a happy hour to take place.

Make sure you provide conversation starters or topics that your supporters can use to mingle with one another. You should also make sure your major gift officer has the opportunity to talk to prospects during this time and get to know them on a personal level. Similar to the luncheon or dinner idea, you might decide to host a short speech during which you can give a blanket “thank you” to all supporters who contributed.

Holiday celebrations

The holidays are an ideal time to show your appreciation for your supporters. Many holidays have gratitude and appreciation at their core, making it a great time to bring everyone together, celebrate, and show your appreciation for donors. Plus, this provides a memorable experience that you can use as a launching pad for an annual celebration.

The classic idea is to host a winter holiday celebration where you can celebrate the end of the year with your supporters. The only problem with this is that focusing on stewardship could collide with or overshadow your end-of-year fundraising season, potentially causing you to miss out on year-end donations. Instead, you might choose a different holiday season like a Spring fling, Independence Day, or Valentine’s Day to center your event around.

5. Donor appreciation gifts ideas

Who doesn’t love receiving a present? Donor appreciation gifts provide a platform to say thank you to donors at all levels. You might even decide to provide different types of merchandise or gifts for each level of supporter at your organization.

Sending gifts makes supporters feel appreciated. Plus, you can receive additional benefits from this type of appreciation strategy. When merchandise is branded to your organization, your supporters will think of your mission every time they see the merch or use items from a goodie bag. Educational materials can provide additional information about your mission, making it a great way to connect with donors while also informing them further about your organization.

Branded merchandise

Branded merchandise provides two different benefits for your organization. First, it provides a tangible item to show your appreciation for everything your supporters do for you. Second, it serves as a reminder of your organization and your mission over the months or even years.

The classic merchandise items include things like t-shirts and mugs, but you can also get incredibly creative with this idea and design anything related to your organization or your mission as a whole. For example, if you work to provide technology to schools, you might brand a power bank with your organization’s logo and with your dedicated color scheme.

Books or educational materials

Educational materials are a meaningful way to give supporters an inside look at your organization’s activities and the reason for your mission. Plus, they make a great donor appreciation gift!

Let’s say there was a particular book that influenced your leadership to launch your organization; try giving that book out to your supporters! You might even try to host an event with the book’s author if you really want to go the extra mile.

Baskets and goodie bags

When you put together branded merchandise, you’re likely going to have a number of different items to give away or sell. You may even have a number of different designs for your various campaigns. For supporters who go above and beyond, you can put together baskets and goodie bags of these items for them to enjoy.

You might even host little giveaways that all of your supporters are automatically entered into with a number of themed baskets or giveaways. This will not only show your appreciation but also provide additional incentives to give!

Coupons and discounts

You likely host a number of activities, events, and maybe even conferences that your supporters are invited to attend. And chances are that many of these opportunities aren’t free. As a sign of appreciation for those who donate to specific campaigns or above certain amounts, try offering coupons or discounts.

Again, this is an incentives program that provides a token of appreciation for supporters who contribute. For example, you might provide a discount to your annual holiday party registration for everyone who donates to your year-end campaign.

Wrapping up donor appreciation

Donor appreciation is the launching pad for stewardship and retention. It’s the first step to building lasting relationships with your supporters. Therefore, be sure to put together a concrete strategy of your own to say “thank you” to each of your donors.

You can use the various ideas and appreciation approaches throughout this guide to help design your strategy and ensure it’s up to scratch.

If you’re looking for additional advice for building relationships with supporters, consider perusing the various resources below:

• Nonprofit CRM | Complete Guide to Choosing the Best Solution. See how having the best CRM to meet your specific needs results in better relationships with donors.
• Bloomerang’s Guide to Donor Retention. Learn more about donor retention and the impact that it has on your fundraising efforts as a whole.
• Nonprofit Annual Reports [+ Template!]. See how you can create your annual report to best steward your supporters, plus check out some awesome examples to get started.

The post Donor appreciation: creating a strategy & 22+ ideas appeared first on Bloomerang.

If your nonprofit engages supporters through memberships, you need robust software to organize your growing program. This guide will review the basics of membership management software for nonprofits and the top solutions to consider. Here’s our roadmap:

• What is membership software for nonprofits? 
• Top membership management software for nonprofits
• How to choose the right membership software

Membership software is an investment that will pay for itself, allowing your nonprofit to expand its membership program efficiently and effectively.

VeryConnect

VeryConnect offers membership management software tailored to professional associations and regulatory bodies. The platform focuses on structured member lifecycle management and compliance tracking. Nonprofits can leverage features such as:

• Advanced member databases with segmentation tool
• Invoicing and subscriptions management
• Member portals swith self-service profile updates

VeryConnect is particularly suited for organizations requiring robust reporting, compliance oversight, and formal membership governance.

Pricing

Custom pricing based on organizational size and requirements—contact for a personalized quote.

Raklet

Raklet is a membership management platform built for associations, nonprofits, and community organizations seeking automation and engagement tools. Nonprofits can leverage features such as:

• Customizable memberships tiers with recurring billing
• Automated renewals and payment reminders
• Email and SMSs communication tools

Raklet emphasizes flexibility and international payment support, making it useful for organizations with diverse or global member bases.

Pricing

Tiered monthly pricing based on features and member volume—entry-level plans typically start around $49 per month.

Wrapping up

Membership software is an effective tool for managing and growing your member community. Ultimately, you can use this solution to engage members on a deeper level and foster broader support for your nonprofit’s mission.

Looking for more resources to help manage your nonprofit’s constituent community? Start here:

• The Ultimate Donor Engagement Guide + Top Strategies. Donor engagement is crucial for boosting supporter retention. Use the tips in this guide to create a better supporter experience.
• How to Buy Fundraising Software That Lasts: Essential Guide. Alongside membership software, fundraising tools help your nonprofit stay organized and grow its reach. Explore top solutions here.
• 10 Ways to Find New Donors for Your Nonprofit Organization​. Finding new donors (or members) can be daunting, but this guide will aid you by offering creative outreach ideas to attract new supporters.

The post 20 Top Membership Management Software for Nonprofits in 2026 appeared first on Bloomerang.

Imagine it is a hot July afternoon. Your team recently sent out a fundraising appeal—and the response is underwhelming. You have seen this before. Each year, summer rolls in with sunshine, vacations, and, unfortunately, a sharp dip in donations. This seasonal lull, often referred to as the “summer slump,” can leave nonprofits scrambling to meet their fundraising goals. But with the right summer fundraising strategies, you can engage your donors and turn the “summer slump” into momentum.

However, it’s important to recognize that not every nonprofit experiences a summer slowdown. For some, summer is actually the busiest time of the year—especially organizations that run camps, seasonal programs, or community outreach events. Whether your nonprofit is experiencing a lull or a surge, summer presents a unique opportunity to connect with donors in meaningful ways.

Have you ever wondered why giving slows down and what you can do to change it?

Many organizations report a significant decline in donations during the summer months, with July and August often being the slowest periods for fundraising. But this doesn’t have to be your story. In this blog, we will explore smart, effective summer fundraising strategies for nonprofits to keep your mission front and center—and your supporters engaged—all summer long.

Understanding the summer slump

The summer slump is a common challenge for nonprofit organizations. Donations tend to dip dramatically during July and August, often because supporters are distracted or financially tapped out from travel and seasonal expenses.

Here are some of the key reasons why summer giving slows down:

• Vacations & distractions: Donors are often traveling, spending more time outdoors, or adjusting to new routines, making them less responsive to emails or campaigns.
• Seasonal expenses: Summer comes with increased personal costs—vacations, back-to-school shopping, childcare—that can limit discretionary spending.
• Fewer fundraising events: Many nonprofits scale back events during summer, reducing opportunities to connect with donors.

While this slump is common, it does not have to define your season. With the right strategies, you can turn summer into a time of connection and momentum.

Maximize your fundraising potential with this online quiz.

Strategies to boost summer engagement and giving

A. Express sincere gratitude

Do not wait until year-end to thank your supporters. The top two reasons why donors stop giving are: 1. They are not updated on the impact their donations have had, and 2. They are never thanked for their gift. Summer is a perfect time to go above and beyond in expressing appreciation.

Send handwritten notes, personal thank-you videos, or surprise thank-you emails. Let donors know they are seen and appreciated, especially during slower months. Gratitude nurtures lasting relationships and reinforces the value of their gifts.

B. Use impact metrics and reports to demonstrate change

Do not let summer be a silent season. Share compelling impact data that highlights what your organization is achieving, even during these slower months. Publish simple impact reports or infographics showing short- and long-term outcomes, such as “100 families fed in June,” or “Malnutrition down 20% over five years.”

These impact metrics validate your mission and show donors that their support is still making an impact and is still needed. Use visuals to break down complex data into digestible, motivating insights.

C. Focus on storytelling

While data proves your effectiveness, stories bring your mission to life. Share stories that highlight the lives your programs are impacting this summer. Feature a program participant, volunteer, or staff member whose experience captures your organization’s heart.

Pair stories with visuals—photos, video snippets, and graphics—for maximum emotional resonance. Combine your impact data and storytelling to bring your impact to life. A summer story shared through email or social media can reignite donor connection in just a few minutes.

D. Leverage technology to communicate and amplify impact

Technology makes it easier than ever to keep supporters informed, inspired, and engaged—even during quieter months. Tools like Bloomerang’s all-in-one giving platform can help you automate personalized thank-you messages, segment your donor base for targeted storytelling, and generate impact reports with ease.

By leveraging giving platforms, you can streamline communication and maintain strong connections all summer long. Technology empowers your team to share meaningful updates more frequently, turning one-time gifts into long-term support through transparency and relationship-building.

E. Engage youth and families

Summer is an ideal time to bring in volunteers and supporters who have more availability. Host family-friendly volunteer days or invite supporters to tour your facility or experience programs in action.

These in-person or virtual touchpoints build transparency and deepen relationships. When donors and families see your work up close and feel a part of the impact you are creating, they are more likely to support and advocate for it.

F. Inspire monthly giving through impact

Even in the off-season, donors want to feel their contributions make a difference. Position monthly giving as a way for supporters to have a lasting impact, no matter the time of year. Summer is a great time to inspire new recurring donors with messaging like, “Your support creates year-round impact—starting today.”

Help donors see how their consistent contributions can fund long-term change and generate momentum for the rest of the year. By connecting their giving to specific outcomes, you create excitement and a stronger sense of purpose that carries through every season.

Benefits of highlighting impact during the summer

While the summer months can be quieter in terms of donor activity, they present a powerful opportunity to deepen relationships through transparency and storytelling. Highlighting your organization’s impact during this time does more than just fill the seasonal gap—it builds lasting donor confidence and shows that your mission never takes a vacation.

There are many benefits to sharing your organization’s impact metrics with your supporters. A few of them include:

• Greater mission understanding: Impact metrics help supporters understand and know exactly who your organization is, the work it is doing, what it has accomplished, and the potential for greater impact.
• Providing organizational transparency: Sharing impact metrics ensures donors know exactly how their money is being used. This transparency reinforces their trust in your organization and makes them feel like valued partners in your mission.
• Building donor trust: Clear and consistent communication about outcomes builds credibility. When donors see proof of your accomplishments, they are more likely to feel confident in their decision to support your cause.
• Sharing stories that bring data to life: Pairing metrics with compelling human stories creates a powerful narrative. For example, instead of only saying you provided 1,000 meals, also share the story of a family whose lives were transformed by your support.

When you take the time to communicate your progress and outcomes, you give donors a reason to stay connected even during quieter months. Whether through detailed reports, heartfelt stories, or shared successes, highlighting your impact is one of the most effective summer fundraising strategies for nonprofits looking to turn seasonal challenges into long-term growth.

If you are unsure what impact metrics are or where to start with measuring or communicating your impact, Social Impact Solutions can help. We have written a blog explaining impact metrics to get you started. Read our blog here.

Planning ahead for a strong fall

The insights and engagement you cultivate during summer can do more than maintain momentum—they can set the stage for a powerful fall giving season. After building trust, transparency, and emotional connection through your summer communications, it is time to look ahead with intention and strategy.

Use the quieter summer months to strengthen your foundation for a successful fall giving season. This is the perfect time to evaluate what is working and build your strategy.

• Review donor data to identify trends, lapsed donors, and segments with growth potential.
• Survey your supporters to learn what motivates them or how they want to be involved in the coming months.
• Plan your fall campaign themes and materials so you are not scrambling come September.
• Invest in stewardship now—personal touches like phone calls, thank-you cards, and check-in emails go a long way in donor retention.

By preparing ahead of time, you will enter fall with engagement and momentum instead of playing catch-up.

Turn the summer slump around

Summer does not have to be a slow season for your nonprofit. By leaning into sharing your impact, storytelling, expressing gratitude, and engaging donors in meaningful ways, you can overcome the summer slump and create strong, lasting donor relationships.

Treat summer as an opportunity—not a setback—and set your organization up for long-term success. Consistent engagement, even during off-seasons, is the key to donor loyalty and year-round impact.

Ready to beat the summer slump? Social Impact Solutions is ready to help you engage your donors and increase your fundraising through the off-season.

Avoid the Summer Slump, Give Our Impact Experts a Call

The post Turning the Summer Slump Around: Engage Donors During the Off-Season appeared first on Bloomerang.

Nonprofits spend a lot of time worrying about donor acquisition. But imagine for a second that every supporter had a “Cancel My Donation” button—just like unsubscribing from a streaming service.

Some would click immediately after making a gift, never planning to return. Others would stick around for a while, but eventually, something would make them second-guess their commitment. Maybe they didn’t feel appreciated. Maybe they didn’t see the impact of their gift. Maybe they just forgot they were even supporting you in the first place.

If donors could cancel with one click, would they?

Here’s the thing: They already do. Most donors stop giving after their first gift—not because they don’t care, but because they don’t feel connected.

The good news? The organizations that keep donors engaged don’t do it by begging for another gift. They do it by making sure donors never want to leave in the first place.

The good news? Donor engagement isn’t about chasing the next gift—it’s about building a relationship that makes donors want to stick around. And like any strong relationship, it starts with showing up for them—not just when you need something. Here’s what that looks like in practice.

1. If you only show up when you need money, expect donors to disappear.

Ever had a friend who only calls when they need a favor? Annoying, right? That’s how donors feel when they only hear from you at fundraising time.

What makes donors hit “cancel”?

• Months of silence between fundraising campaigns.
• Generic mass emails that feel like they could go to anyone.
• A never-ending cycle of donation requests without any real updates.

What makes them stay?

• Personal, meaningful touchpoints that aren’t tied to an ask.
• Invitations to behind-the-scenes updates, Q&As, or special content.
• Recognition that feels real—not just a transaction.

Why it works: Donors aren’t just funding your mission—they want to feel like they’re part of it. Treat them like insiders, and they’ll stick around.

2. Transparency isn’t a report—it’s a conversation.

Would you keep paying for a service if you had no idea what you were getting in return? That’s how donors feel when they don’t see the impact of their gifts. But transparency isn’t just about financials—it’s about trust.

What makes donors hit “cancel”?

• A once-a-year impact report that’s too long to read.
• No real-time updates on how donations are being used.
• A vague sense that their gift “probably” made a difference.

What makes them stay?

• Instant feedback—let donors see the impact of their gifts in real time.
• A visual approach to impact: quick updates, dashboards, or progress meters.
• A simple, clear way for donors to understand how they’re helping.

Why it works: 48% of donors say regular updates make them more likely to give again. When people trust that their money is making an impact, they stay engaged.

3. Nobody cancels a subscription they love. Make giving feel like something they want to keep.

People keep paying for Netflix because they love the content. They stay loyal to their favorite coffee shop because it makes them feel good and they love the vibe. What if supporting your nonprofit felt the same way?

What makes donors hit “cancel”?

• A forgettable giving experience that doesn’t spark emotion.
• No sense of connection beyond the transaction.
• An impersonal “thank you” that feels like an afterthought.

What makes them stay?

• Surprise and delight moments. A handwritten note, a personal video, a thoughtful check-in.
• Donor storytelling. Let supporters see themselves in the mission.
• Celebrating milestones. Acknowledging donor anniversaries or lifetime giving, not just one-off gifts.

Why it works: Giving should feel rewarding—not like an obligation. The more people enjoy being part of your organization, the more likely they are to keep coming back.

4. Don’t just talk—listen. Give donors a voice in your mission.

When customers feel unheard, they switch brands. When donors feel unheard, they stop giving. People want to invest in places where they feel valued—and that means more than just sending a thank-you email.

What makes donors hit “cancel”?

• One-way communication: Nonprofits that only talk at donors, never with them.
• No room for feedback or meaningful engagement.
• A transactional relationship where donors don’t feel like partners.

What makes them stay?

• Inviting donors to shape the future. What programs matter most to them? What impact do they want to see?
• Crowdsourcing ideas. Instead of assuming what donors care about, ask them.
• Turning appreciation into a two-way conversation.

Why it works: Donors who feel personally invested give more over time. Make them feel heard, and they’ll stick with you.

5. Stop thinking of donors as donors. Start thinking of them as community members.

The nonprofits that keep donors for life don’t treat them like ATMs. They treat them like people. Supporters want to feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves.

What makes donors hit “cancel”?

• Feeling like they’re just one of thousands on a list.
• A giving experience that feels like a one-time event.
• No deeper sense of involvement beyond their donation.

What makes them stay?

• Fostering a true sense of community. Donors don’t just give—they advocate, participate, and engage.
• Making generosity feel like a movement. The best nonprofits inspire, not just ask.
• Inviting donors to be part of something ongoing.

Why it works: People don’t just want to support causes—they want to belong to them. Create that feeling, and they’ll never “unsubscribe.”

The last word: What would make a donor stay forever?

If your donors had a cancel subscription button, would they use it?

The best way to improve donor retention isn’t asking more—it’s engaging better. The nonprofits that keep supporters for the long haul aren’t the ones with the best fundraising tactics. They’re the ones that build something worth staying for.

Take a fresh look at your donor engagement. What’s one small change you can make today that keeps supporters from hitting “unsubscribe”?

The post What If Donors Had A ‘Cancel Subscription’ Button? appeared first on Bloomerang.

Dear Charity Clairity,

My boss thinks direct mail is dead, plus that it’s too expensive and we should switch to all email. From what I’ve read, snail mail still performs better than digital. What do you think? Are there parts of the list we should send to, and others we should not? Also, what are some tips to make direct mail perform better?

— I’ve Got Questions

Dear I’ve Got Questions,

First, you’re correct; direct mail is not dead.

Donors like receiving mail, especially from someone they like. In fact, research reveals direct mail has an average 5.3% response rate – outperforming other channels (e.g., email, 0.1%; paid search, 0.6%; online display marketing, 0.2%). Plus, 70% of people report direct mail feels more personal than digital approaches.

Second, you don’t have to limit yourself to one channel. 

There are many ways to reach potential donors today, including direct mail, email, social media, phone calls, texts, ads and more. You never know where someone may see your message, so it makes sense to take a multi-channel approach. Just take care to make the giving experience seamless – with easy back and forth, from one media to another — or you’ll fail to empower folks to give when they’re feeling the most inspired. This means proactively connecting and collaborating with marketing and IT staff to assure all preconditions are in place to strike while the iron is hot! For example:

• Include QR codes in your direct mail to take donors directly to your website donation page.
• Offer as many giving options as possible, not just credit cards and checks (e.g., PayPal, Venmo, ApplePay, Zelle, ACH electronic funds transfer, Donor Advised Funds, cryptocurrency, etc.).

Third, your house file will be your performance leader.

This list (or compilation of multiple lists) includes all current donors, past donors, volunteers and people affiliated with you in other ways (e.g., members, service users, alumni, grateful patients, campers, event attendees, etc.). As compared with a rented or exchanged prospect list of people who’ve never engaged with you, the house file is “warm.” Definitely mail to these folks to assure you keep them close and, hopefully, increase the lifetime value of their giving. A “best practice” is to avoid bulk mail for this group so you can take advantage of personalization. Yes, it’s more expensive up front, but the ROI makes it a worthwhile investment. Every piece in a bulk mailing must be alike; a bit of differentiation makes all the difference. When people feel acknowledged as individuals, they’re more likely to feel a sense of responsibility to respond. Here’s what I suggest:

• Use the person’s first name. 
• Reference a past gift if they made one.
• Reference affiliations (e.g., “As a board member, you understand better than most…” “Thank you for being a volunteer;” “Thanks for attending our Gala;” “Thank you for being a peer-to-peer influencer,” etc.). You don’t have to list every connection to you. It’s best to create a hierarchy, beginning with what you think people most closely identify with.
• Write a personal note on the appeal, or add a sticky note. While you may not be able to do this with every letter, pick some subsets of your list where it makes sense. For example, you can have board members write to other donors, volunteers write to other volunteers, and event chairs write to event attendees. Try especially to get notes on appeals to donors who made above-average size gifts last year. Even something like “your ongoing support means so much!” makes a difference.

Final thoughts: Unlike other channels, direct mail has lasting value. It often hangs around serving as a tangible reminder of your cause (e.g., on a desk, table, countertop, or refrigerator). Unlike email, which either is deleted immediately or buried at the bottom of an overfull inbox, direct mail offers a chance your busy donor will put it aside for later — when they have more time or are in a better mood. Plus, direct mail gives you more space to make your case for support. Make sure your appeal includes a compelling story, an emotionally moving photo and personal touches. All these things.

Hopefully this answers your questions!

— Charity Clairity (Please use a pseudonym if you prefer to be anonymous when you submit your own question, like “I’ve Got Questions” did.)

Does your organization use direct mail? Let us know in the comments. 

The post [ASK AN EXPERT] Should I Still Use Direct Mail? appeared first on Bloomerang.