Fundraisers, Don't Ignore the Competition
Third, ask yourself if all your communications to your donors are carrying their weight. If your donors don't expect something interesting and informative every time they open a letter, email, newsletter or any other communication from you, they may stop bothering. There are no "casual" communications with a donor. Each one is building a relationship that can lead to donations or trigger a relationship rift that can't be overcome.
Be your own worst critic
This old dog knows how easy it is to "fall in love" with what I write or a strategy I develop. It's painful to tear apart my own words or admit that something I birthed just doesn't work. But there is too much competition for my donor's attention and dollars to make fundraising a narcissistic exercise. Who is your competition, and what are your competitors doing — and how are you going to rise above that and get you message across?
That's every fundraiser's challenge — at year-end and all year long.
- Categories:
- Creative
- Direct Response
- Retention
Pamela consults with nonprofits, helping them develop their fundraising strategy and writing copy to achieve their goals. Additionally, she teaches fundraising at two universities, hoping to inspire the next generation of fundraisers to be passionate about the profession. Previously, Pamela led the fundraising programs for nonprofit organizations. Pamela is a member of the Advisory Panel for Rogare, the fundraising think tank at Plymouth University’s Hartsook Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy, a CFRE, a graduate of Wheaton College (IL) and Dominican University, and holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from California Southern University. Contact Pamela at pamela@pjbardeninc.com or follow her on Twitter at @pjbarden.
