Donor Segments

In the last few years, nonprofit organizations have been increasing their staff size by hiring more aggressively than for-profit organizations, but nonprofits are experiencing an increased competition for talent from the for-profit sector, according to Nonprofit HR’s “2017 Nonprofit Employment Practices Survey...

Who are my donors, and how have they engaged in the past? Most will answer this question in one of two ways. First, by quoting recency, frequency, monetary segments, complete with highest previous contribution and timing of the most recent gift. Second, by describing donor demographics/wealth with off-the-shelf segments or with their homegrown analysis...

We all like to do it. It’s enjoyable, it’s free and, except for our time, it involves no commitment. When the clerk asks us if they can help us, how often do we answer, “Just looking?” I dare say we’ve often given that answer when we are actually looking for something specific, but aren’t yet ready to commit. Then again, there are many times when we’re merely “killing time...

There isn’t a “more helpful” sex; both men and women help others. But the gender difference in the peer-to-peer realm is stark—women participate and fundraise at significantly higher levels than men do...

At the recent Bridge Conference, I enjoyed several wonderful sustainer sessions. During one of those, someone asked about the automatic sustainer upgrade process some nonprofits are apparently using. My hair immediately started standing up straight! What happened to being donor-centric?...

While online giving is growing, it’s our assumption that donors are comfortable filling out their personal information into an online donation form and hitting the submit button. Then, where does that information go? For donors, that can be unnerving...

I’ve been a monthly donor for many years. Two years ago, I did a little experiment: I joined 20 organizations to see what they would do (10 small and 10 large organizations). I wanted to experience their “thank you” process, their subsequent communication stream, tax letters, emails, lapsed recapture (if any) and upgrade process...

I am a creature of a habitual nature. Each day, I commute to this beautiful city of Philadelphia from my hometown, Wilmington, Del. And before wandering into my office each morning, I always—and I mean always—stop off to get a delicious, steaming hot cup of La Colombe coffee...

Major donor prospects don’t hide under rocks or fall from the sky, but if you look in the right places you will find them. Once you do, you’ll have the fuel you need to fill your major gifts fundraising pipeline. It’s your first step towards leading them along the continuum from interest… to greater involvement… to passionate investment...

Two weeks ago, I was checking my credit card statement and noticed several iTunes charges on it. The charges were going up in value. Believe it or not, I don’t have an iTunes account, so that was an immediate flag. I called the credit card company right away to dispute the charges. They, of course, canceled my card and sent me a new card...