Notes From Engage 2014
(Editor’s note: Last month, FundRaising Success hosted our second annual Engage Conference in Philadelphia. More than 100 nonprofit fundraisers joined us at WHYY for a day of engrossing case studies and conversations around the growth strategies than can take an organization from where it was to where it is … with a nod to where it’s going.
We were so lucky to have a number of folks follow up by writing blog posts on the content.
Here are two posts that appeared on the Billhighway blog. — MBG)
10 Low-Cost Donor Engagement Strategies
I attended the Engage Conference in Philadelphia, put on by the folks at FundRaising Success magazine. The conference was intimate, with about 150 attendees, and featured in-depth case studies and roundtable sessions.
I had a great time learning, listening and networking and was thrilled to have heard Angel Aloma, executive director of Food For The Poor, speak. If you haven’t heard him — you must! He’s a very passionate, inspiring speaker, and is committed to sharing knowledge and best practices within the nonprofit ecosystem. Way to go, Angel!
I have lots of takeaways from the conference but wanted to share 10 low-cost donor engagement strategies I picked up during the day. Believe me, any nonprofit can swing these, for little to no out-of-pocket cost. Without further ado:
1. Get volunteers to write thank-you notes. Invite your donors to pitch in and help handwrite thank-you notes … it’s a quick and easy way to expand your reach without spending a dime.
2. While you’re at it, get them to make phone calls too. Talk about a different perspective … imagine getting a call from a donor asking you to give to the same nonprofit she gives to. Who better than your donors to share why a prospect should give and what it means to them?
