During a period characterized by ongoing natural disasters and humanitarian crises, the incessant appeal for support can lead to donor fatigue. This condition becomes particularly acute during the holiday season when activity, appeals, and the charitable deduction decisions reach a crescendo. Here are some tips on avoiding empathy exhaustion and re-energizing your donor community.
- Make the donor decision easy. Whether you have an established relationship with the donor or not. Make the decision to give to your cause easy. Reach them on their preferred media and make a simple and clear value proposition.Then make the transaction just as simple.
- Clarify why your organization can make a unique impact to the cause that matters so much to the donor. Present a brief case with quick examples of your past performance.
- Provide an array of transaction options. Allowing donors to choose their preferred method of contribution (credit card, debit card, direct bank transfer or payroll) avoids roadblocks.
- Give donors contribution options that fit their budgets. Demonstrate how varying gift amounts can make an impact and where no monetary gift is feasible, give them the option to contribute through volunteering. Convert passionate federal workers and retirees into advocates for your cause.
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These tips were paraphrased from an article that appeared in Forbes CommunityVoice on 4 December 2017: (https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesnonprofitcouncil/2017/12/04/how-people-can-combat-donor-fatigue-this-holiday-season/#5d8957c62f28)