How Do You Serve Your Donors?

My Internet went down today at my home office. Then I realized that Andrey, a worker doing some remodeling here with his father, could probably fix it.

I asked for his help, and he obliged. After just a few minutes, the Internet returned and my stress level subsided. When I thanked him, he said, "Just let us know if there is anything we can do to help you.'

Wow — the computer was not his challenge nor in his scope of responsibility. He just brings a servant's heart to helping people.

After a yearlong internship, we are losing a staff member like that — Isaiah Adona. A day doesn't go by that he neglects to ask how he can help — with anything. There is never any doubt — from early in the day to late in the afternoon he is working to serve our clients.

Interacting with both of these really made me think. Do we always approach clients with a servant's heart? That is our culture, and I hope our clients always think of us like I thought of Andrey and Isaiah — good days and bad.

And, very importantly for those of us in the fundraising arena, do our donors and volunteers have that feeling? Do donors believe that we are there, to help them, no matter what? And are we?

From smaller donors to larger donors, what do we do to make them have an easy, seamless, fun and rewarding donor experience? Do we ask them how we can help make their giving experience easier and more fulfilling? And do they realize that maybe — even if it doesn't relate to a gift to our organization — that we might be willing to help them?

After all, we are in the relationship-building business. And isn't a servant's heart and approach a foundation of a strong relationship?!