The year-end giving season is a busy time for nonprofits, with donations pouring in and teams scrambling to keep up. But the real work begins after the gifts are received – it's all about following up with donors to show your appreciation and nurture those relationships. Get practical tips and strategies to help you nail your year-end donor follow-up, so you can start 2025 on the right foot.
→ How to analyze your donor data to set realistic follow-up goals
→ Ways to engage your board in the donor stewardship process
→ Ideas for personalizing thank-you messages (beyond the standard receipt)
→ Tips for nurturing new donors with email sequences
→ Creative strategies to show appreciation to long-time supporters
[03:31] Start with the data. Understand your donor data to create an attainable follow-up plan, including the breakdown of new vs. repeat donors and common donation amounts.
[05:56] You don't have to do it alone. Leverage your board members to write personalized thank-you notes, which you can then send out quickly as gifts come in.
[06:42] Think about how you can stand out from other organizations. Use tools like Loom and Zoom to record personalized video messages, tailoring the delivery method to each donor's preferences.
[08:22] Automate what you can so you can free up your time for one-on-one outreach. Set up an email nurture sequence for new donors to help them get to know your organization better and set expectations for future communication.
[10:45] Thank EVERY SINGLE DONOR!!!!! Remember that every donation, no matter the size, is significant, so be sure to express gratitude to all your supporters.
EP 265 | Your Board's Role in Donor Stewardship with Sabrina Walker Hernandez
EP 273 | Crafting the Perfect Year End Emails with Vanessa Chase Lockshin
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