By Rob Leighton, Executive Director at iMission — a full-service digital-first marketing agency working exclusively with nonprofits and social sector organizations.

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Healthy nonprofits know that building a strong base of repeat donors is an essential element of long-term success. And that makes sense because as research shows, retaining existing donors is significantly more cost-effective than acquiring new ones. So what can you do to ensure you’re staying connected with your donors so they keep giving? Here are 10 tips for fundraising success:

How to Keep Donors Giving

1. Share Your Successful Impact Stories. Donors want to see the difference their generosity is making. Tell your success story using clear, data-driven reports, personal testimonials, photos, and compelling stories that showcase the impact of their contributions. Show your donors why they should give again.

2. Vary Your Communications. Avoid donor fatigue by balancing donation requests with valuable content, informative stories, and opportunities for involvement. Keep your focus on relationship-building, not just soliciting funds. To help you stay organized, create a communications calendar to plan your correspondence over time, and avoid sending out too many messages.

3. Provide Prompt and Heartfelt Thank-Yous. Acknowledge every donation with a timely, sincere thank-you. Go beyond generic efforts with personalized emails, texts, video messages, or public recognition (with consent). This is simple to do using automation tools available in your customer relationship management (CRM) or even in your email service (like Mailchimp and Constant Contact).

4. Simplify the Donation Process. Ensure your online donation page is user-friendly, mobile-responsive, and secure. Offer as many payment options as possible, making the process of giving as easy as possible. Regularly test your donation page to identify, address, and correct any usability issues.

5. Offer Flexible Giving Options. Financial situations vary, as we know. To make the process friendly to all, offer monthly recurring donations, smaller targeted campaigns, and opportunities for in-kind donations. Emphasize that every contribution, regardless of size, makes a difference.

6. Implement Personalized Follow-Up Strategies. Life is busy, and donors may simply forget to give again. Implement automated email sequences, personalized phone calls, and targeted direct mail to remind donors of your ongoing needs. All of these can be a part of your overall donation communications plan (see tip 2). Be sure to segment your donors so they receive personalized communication that is relevant to their giving history and interests.

7. Cultivate a Sense of Community. To keep your donors involved in your work, offer exclusive events, personalized updates, “behind the scenes” tours, and opportunities for donors to connect with your organization’s leadership. Creating a donor recognition program also rewards donors for their continued support. Show them they are valued members of your community.

8. Stay Relevant. Adapt your messaging to current trends and demonstrate the continued relevance of your work. Be sure to post your messages on the platforms where your donors already are. Make it easy for them to find you and learn what you’re doing. Offer a range of engagement opportunities, such as volunteer events, webinars, or online forums, catering to different interests.

9. Implement Automated Reminders. Use automated reminders and personalized follow-ups to re-engage donors who may have lapsed over time. Your LYBUNT (Last Year But Unfortunately Not This year) list and SYBUNT (Some Year But Unfortunately Not This year) lists are a strong place to start. Sometimes a friendly nudge can go a long way.

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Marketing automation will let you find new donors, volunteers, and clients – and more quickly and successfully move them to action. iMission’s Ultimate Guide to Marketing Automation for Nonprofits shows you, step-by-step, how your organization can take your fundraising to a whole new level.

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10. Clearly Articulate Your Unique Mission. Stand out by clearly communicating your organization’s unique value proposition and demonstrating your impact. Showcase your strengths with engaging photos and videos that show donors why they should keep giving to your organization.

By implementing these solutions, you can cultivate stronger relationships with your donors and ensure a sustainable future of repeat donations. Remember, inspiring donors to give is an ongoing journey, not a destination. By consistently focusing on these key tactics, you can build a community of loyal supporters and create a lasting impact for your mission.

And here’s one more bonus tip:  Check out the other organizations in your space and conduct a competitive analysis:

What does their website look like?

What kinds of messages are they communicating?

What are they posting on social media?

What events are they holding?

What donation offers are they using?

By regularly conducting a competitive analysis, you’ll have a better understanding of how your organization compares with others in your sector. Use this information to highlight your value to your community.

Do you want to learn more about digital strategies and engagement tools you can leverage to maximize your influence and strengthen those crucial donor connections? Connect with iMission to get started!