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Newsletter
September
2016
Establishing Trust With Your Donors
By Caite Gilmore

Trust forms the bedrock of strong relationships between donors and nonprofits.  Relationships built on trust, partnership and comradery around shared goals are more beneficial and long-lasting than those based on simple financial transactions.  Outlined below are several steps your organization can take to build and maintain trust with new and prospective donors.

Establish open and honest two-way communication about your plans, successes - and challenges!
Engaging in dialogue about organizational short- and long-term goals, providing metrics, and sharing outcomes are crucial to obtaining and maintaining your donor's trust. 
  • Develop a strategic plan to establish short- and long-term goals and engage your donors in defining and achieving them;
  • Employ practical approaches to quantifying success, such as dashboards;
  • Regularly share information on how philanthropic funds are used to further the mission - whether through annual reports and newsletters or personal emails, letters and phone calls. 
  • Engage donors as thought partners when discussing new initiatives, lessons learned, impact and overall direction of the work; and
  • Discuss challenges openly.  Being upfront during times of crisis will make donors feel even more invested in your success and can help solidify a long-term relationship.
Disclose budgetary information
Financial transparency is not only a legal requirement, it is also vital in helping build and maintain trust between your organization and your donors.  Organizations that openly share financial and budgetary information signal to donors that they are accountable and spend philanthropic dollars responsibly.
  • Have an independent auditor conduct your audit and ensure your board has an independent audit committee with accounting and financial experts;
  • Post recent Form 990's and annual reports on your organization's website;
  • Document and publish beneficiaries served, dollars raised, membership growth, and overhead costs on the website; and
  • Ensure your nonprofit is in good standing with Guidestar, Charity Navigator, the Better Business Bureau and other accrediting organizations.
Structure staff and leadership to build trust with donors
The responsibility of building trust with your donors goes beyond your fundraising team - all staff members have a role to play. 
  • Strategically provide donors with several touchpoints in the organization (Board members, program staff, field staff, etc.).  OAI's Multiple Touchpoint Model of donor management can help the donor feel connected, involved and invested in your organization;
  • Communications staff ensure that the mission and programs are described clearly and consistently in all communications (i.e., social media, marketing materials, solicitation mailings, etc.) and that messaging about the work is embedded within the organization's culture;
  • Program staff measure and relay results and impact; and
  • Board members play a vital role in building trust with donors - a visible, engaged and philanthropic Board lends credibility to and inspires confidence in your organization.
Building trust does not happen overnight.  Engaging your donor base is a daily practice that, over time, creates more synergy, leads to sustained funding and ultimately translates to better outcomes for your mission and the people you serve. What systems can be improved to increase your donor's trust in your organization?  OAI would be pleased to have a conversation to assess ways of building trust with your donors. 
New Hire Spotlights 

Larrissa Rydin  joined the OAI team in Washington D.C in August as a Director of Strategy and Fundraising. She brings to the table nearly two decades of non-
profit leadership and fundraising experience as well as strategic planning, campaign management, and special event coordination expertise. Before  joining OAI she served as Executive Director for the National Capital Area of Autism Speaks and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Larissa is an avid runner and reader. 

Katie Makris  joined the OAI team in Washington D.C as a Director. Katie started  her career in luxury retail and then transitioned to the non-profit world after volunteering with the National MS Society. Prior to joining OAI, Katie was a Major Gifts Officer at the American Red Cross in the National Capital Regional. She brings experience and expertise in fundraising, major gifts, grant writing, and special events. Katie is a two-time Ironman triathlete and marathon runner.

Abigail (Abby) Carlson  is a new Associate on the OAI team in Washington D.C working on fundraising, event management, and board developmen t projects. Abby started as in intern and began her role as an Associate in Augus t.
Be fore joining OAI she was a student at Rhodes College, where she graduated with  a B.A in International Studies and French, and an intern for the Make- A- Wish Foundation of Missouri. Abby enjoys a nice cup of coffee and listening to podcasts.

Patrick Wall joined Associate on the OAI team In New York City working on  strategy and fundraising development projects. Patrick is a recent graduate of Villanova University where he received a B.A. in History and English. Prior to joining OAI, Patrick interned at the New York City based non-profit Inner- City Scholarship Fund. Patrick was a member of Villanova's Rugby team  and is an avid reader and  history buff. 

About Orr Associates, Inc. (OAI)

 

Responding to the increasingly complex burdens on nonprofit leaders, OAI has developed a transformational approach to fundraising and strategy consulting.  Our teams of experienced professionals seamlessly embed themselves with nonprofits to fundraise, to recruit and improve board leadership, to build consensus and direction through new strategies, and to provide executive, fundraising, and financial leadership.  With offices in Washington, DC and New York City, OAI has partnered in our clients' success for 25 years, helping more than 600 nonprofits raise hundreds of millions of dollars for their causes. 

 

See how we can help you today at www.oai-usa.com.   

 

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