Your donors are moving fast, keep your fundraising materials simple

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Here’s a suggestion to simplify your fundraising in 2016 . . .

Make sure every piece of donor communication is either an Ask, a Thank You, or a Report.

If the piece doesn’t do one of those things really well it probably isn’t worth sending. In fact, it’s most likely a waste of money because in fundraising if you’re trying to do two things at once you’re not doing either of them well.

Remember: donors are moving really fast, it’s rare that they give you more than a few seconds of their attention. So pick your ONE message for each piece. Make it big and prominent.

If you’re telling the donor that her gift had an amazing impact, start out with that and tell her why.

If you’re telling your donor that your beneficiaries need her help, start out with that and tell her why (and how her gift will help).

We’ve worked with hundreds of organizations and it really is that simple: the organizations that do the work to make each piece of donor communication an Ask, Thank, or Report raise far more money.

* Of course there are exceptions, like an invitation to an event. But the exceptions should be 10% or less of the total number of communications for most organizations.

Jim Shapiro

Jim Shapiro is the fundraising coach you always wanted, the proven Sherpa who can help you get to the top of the mountain. He has 20 years experience raising money, including serving as the VP of Development for a $300m nonprofit. He then co-founded The Better Fundraising Co. to help small-to-medium nonprofits raise more money. Jim is married, serves his community by coaching high school football, and has three children.

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