How do you make sure a donor will actually read your appeal letter? You must get their name right. After the envelope and the postscript–sometimes, even before the P.S.–the first thing the donor looks at is their name in the salutation. If the letter is sent to “Dear Friend,” that increases the chances that the […] The post Fundraising Tuesday: Get the Name Right appeared first on Communicate ..read more

If you already read my Communicate! blog, thank you…and here’s a list of other #nonprofit blogs you might enjoy. https://garecht.com/the-best-fundraising-blogs/ The post Top Fundraising Blogs, 2020 appeared first on Communicate ..read more

A guest post from Sarah Tedesco of DonorSearch Each year, you and your fundraising team work hard to raise money for your cause and make a meaningful impact on your mission. In the center of all your hard work are your donors, the people who genuinely believe in your cause and take the time and […] The post Get to Know Your Donors: 4 Tips appeared first on Communicate ..read more

At your nonprofit, does every staff member know how to communicate with donors? Donor communications are the “customer service” of the nonprofit world. Show the donors the love and they will keep coming back to support the irreplaceable work you do. But treat them badly, and you are treating your clients badly, too, because you […] The post Donor Love Means Knowing When to Say You’re Sorry appeared first on Communicate ..read more

Last Tuesday, you saw my favorite P.S. on any appeal letter that a nonprofit sent me during the end of 2019. I also shared four ways you could use the P.S. to great advantage: Tell donors what happens when they give Show the impact on one real person’s life Give something tangible to the donor […] The post Fundraising Tuesday: 4 More Ways to Use the P.S. appeared first on Communicate ..read more

Happy 2020. How did your end-of-year appeal go in 2019? The first order of business in 2020 is to send the ideal thank-you letter. If your letters are already in the mail, congratulations! You’ve started persuading donors they did the right thing when they gave to you–and convincing them to give again in 2020! But […] The post TY Thursday: A Thank-you Letter that Donors Will Remember appeared first on Communicate ..read more

As I write this letter Send my love to you… (The Beatles, “P.S. I Love You”) Once your donor opens the envelope, the postscript is the most important part of your appeal letter to get right–if you want the rest of the letter to be read at all! My Favorite Postscript of 2019 I’ve been […] The post Fundraising Tuesday: P.S., I Love You appeared first on Communicate ..read more

Did you get a lot of requests for donations in the mail last year? So did I. I just held a ruler up to the stack of mail that arrived in November and December of 2019. It was more than six inches worth of paper. Taller than a coffee cup. For sure. But more powerful? […] The post Fundraising Tuesday: Envelopes Make Donors Want to Open Your Mail appeared first on Communicate ..read more

So, who’s my next appointment? Ah, Sarah Donor and William Nonprofit. Coming in for couples counseling for the first time. Counselor: Why did the two of you decide to come in here today? Sarah: I don’t feel like he loves me any more. For a short time when he was wooing me, he emailed every […] The post Fundraising Tuesday: Donor-Nonprofit Couples Counseling appeared first on Communicate ..read more

“They must have been listening to you!” My friend Joan used to work in the nonprofit sector before she retired. She still takes a keen interest in the mail and email you send her. Often, sad to say, she passes along examples of really bad nonprofit communication. I’m happy Joan and I can share an […] The post TY Thursday: How to Create a Repeat Donor appeared first on Communicate ..read more