At the same time, you may also inadvertently limit gift amounts.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve noticed a lull in donations<\/a>, a lack of enthusiasm during your latest campaigns, or a decrease in gift amounts, then it\u2019s likely you\u2019re restraining your donor\u2019s giving process.<\/p>\n Check out these six ways you may be stifling gift amounts, and use the tips I\u2019ve outlined below to regain control of the donation process. Whether you\u2019re looking to move mid-level donors to the major donor<\/a> level, or you\u2019re looking for brand new donors to help your cause, the key is to target the right people and bring them onboard.<\/p>\n Ideal donor prospects are:<\/p>\n When you expend your energy on prospecting donors who may have the capacity to give, but not the desire, you\u2019re taking energy away from other prospects who may give more if they\u2019re nurtured. Always look at multiple criteria to ensure the donor is a good, long-term fit.<\/p>\n In theory, giving societies bring people together for the greater good. These special groups often incentivize donors to give a certain amount of money in exchange for a society title or other unique privileges.<\/p>\n But what giving societies fail to do is maximize a donor\u2019s giving potential.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s say your organization uses giving societies. Donors who give $1,000 a year are considered Gold members, $10,000 equates to Platinum, and $25,000 to Diamond. When donors reach that Diamond level, they\u2019re automatically invited to the donor appreciation party.<\/p>\n That sounds like a great way to get people to give $25,000, right?<\/p>\n However, that $25,000 cap is a limitation. It tells donors, even those with the capacity to give twice that or more, that $25,000 is what you want and expect– nothing more.<\/p>\n Giving societies are organization-centric. Move away from these in favor of a more individual, donor-centric approach<\/a>.<\/p>\n On the average working day, it\u2019s hard to collaborate with your own team, let alone each department within your organization. Unfortunately, siloed organizations are the norm in the nonprofit world.<\/p>\n But when you as a fundraiser, are unaware of what\u2019s happening in marketing, volunteer coordination, or any other department, it\u2019s difficult to connect your donor with the work you\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t have a firm grasp on your organization\u2019s impact, then it\u2019s hard to connect your donors to your work on an emotional level, which then helps you bring in the donations you desperately need.<\/p>\n Siloes are normal, but they\u2019re not mandatory. Try to break down those walls, foster cross-department communication, and notice how well that increases your<\/strong> ability to share your nonprofit story with donors.<\/p>\n Which avenues can a donor use to give to your nonprofit?<\/p>\n Do you allow donations through your website, direct mail, and an online fundraising page? Have you linked your donation hub to your social media profiles? Are your website and other online giving pages optimized for mobile<\/a>?<\/p>\n You may occasionally meet with your donors in-person, but donors are increasingly present online. And if a prospective donor goes online and can\u2019t access your donation page because your website isn\u2019t optimized for mobile, you\u2019re bound to miss out on that donation, and a potentially long-lasting relationship.<\/p>\n When you limit your giving options, you stifle gift amounts; plain and simple.<\/p>\n So, you improved 400 lives this year. Awesome! But how? Who? Why? Though that number is impressive, it doesn\u2019t mean much without context.<\/p>\n When donors can\u2019t relate to your nonprofit story, they\u2019re not going to give. And why should they?<\/p>\n![\"stifling-donations\"](\"https:\/\/causevox.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/screen-shot-2019-06-20-at-3-59-13-pm.png\")
<\/p>\n1. You\u2019re Not Prospecting The Correct Donors<\/h2>\n
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2. You Rely On Giving Societies<\/h2>\n
3. Your Organization Is Siloed<\/h2>\n
4. You Lack Giving Options<\/h2>\n
5. You\u2019re Not Relatable<\/h2>\n