Friendraising always delivers better results than fundraising.
Developing a strong and special relationship with your major donors is paramount when it comes to raising money for your charity. Keep in mind that these types of donors are going to be making substantial investments in your organization. Therefore, they want to feel like they have a special connection with your nonprofit before giving you their money.
Building a sustainable, long-lasting relationship with your donors will benefit your organization in more ways than one:
- Your donors will be more loyal to your organization, which means they’ll keep on giving.
- They will promote your nonprofit on their network and bring other friends to support your cause.
- Your donors will trust you. Trust is vital when it comes to getting people to donate money.
As you can see, there are many perks that come with building a powerful, steady relationship with your donors, especially with those who are going to make a big investment.
Here are three effective ways you can achieve this:
1. Make it personal
How do you do that?
First of all, make sure you treat your major donors like individuals and not walking wallets. All donors have their unique donation histories and motivations that drive them to give to a certain cause. By making an effort to get really to know your donors, you’ll make them feel like they are important to your organization.
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On top of that, major donors getting involved will help you come up with better strategies to raise money because you’ll know what it is that motivates them. Involvement is what generates investment, not the other way around.
2. Don’t leave your major donors out of the loop
If your donors feel like they are a part of the team, they will be more willing to make a financial commitment. Communication is key here. Invite them to special events or even to board meetings every once in a while. Also, you can send them periodical, rich-information briefings to let them know what you have been up to and how exactly their donations have helped your cause.
This will let them know that you are both on the same team and that each party involved is there for the benefit of each other and the good of the cause.
3. Grab their attention and never let go
All relationships have to start somewhere, and the relationship with your donors is no exception.
Here’s the thing, though: Your organization is not the only one vying for major donors’ attention. Nope, not even close. There’s much competition out there, which means you need to step up your game and stand out if you want your prospect donors to notice your nonprofit.
One of the best ways to get a major donor’s attention is by getting that person to come to one of your events. However, that is not enough. Your event needs to be memorable. The possibilities are almost endless. The important thing is to ensure your donors will have a good time and learn more about your cause in a way that speaks to them.
The right kind of entertainment can help you plan a memorable event, get your donors’ attention and kick-start the relationship in a way that few other methods can.
If that is something that interests you, make sure to contact us to find out more about the select pool of artists and performers we represent. You will not be sorry you did!
