Suggest a minimum amount and use a range of options ($100, $50, $25, other)

Double check your community calendar when planning an event.

Use a Gift Chart When Asking a Donor for a Gift.

Identify the benefits to your donors and keep them coming.

Show your appreciation. Your donors will continue to give.

Communicate with donors according to their preferences.

Develop a donor centric organization.

Know your donors, research, research, research.

Include an insert with your tax receipts. Ask for a second gift or promote monthly giving.

Be kind to the environment and use print-on-demand for your receipts and letters. No paper waste.

You can’t say thank you often enough to your supporters and participants.

Sell your organization year round with every fundraiser by offering one that says “Proud Supporter of _____.” Give one to every volunteer and group member.

Go green and offer e-receipts to your direct mail donors. E-receipts aren’t just for online gifts.

In the mail, email your donors before they receive postal mail appeals. On the phone, give your donors the option to give online. Send email to your best offline donors. Make the pieces work together.

Show people the difference they are making.

Ask your supporters to spread the word among their friends and family.

Use a goal chart (thermometers are popular) to check your progress.

This is used to measure the investment and success of each campaign. Divide the Gross Revenue by the Total Cost then multiply by 100.

Take the number of gifts received and divide by the total number of pieces mailed, then multiple by 100 to calculate the response rate as a percentage.

Thank you letters should be sent within 48 hours of receiving the donation. The donor will be impressed with your turnaround and more likely to give again.

Merging records or list together and purging any duplicates into one record.

Fundraising is commonly misspelled as fund-raising. It’s fundraising.

Running NCOA will help reduce your undeliverable mail.

Having all of your donations in one centralized database will help your donor relations staff better respond to inquiries by only having to look in one database for the answer.

Never forget that running a special event is likely the worst possible way to just raise $10,000. Be detailed and specific in your goals and objectives.

Using blue ink when signing your donors tax receipts is more personal than black. If your receipts are printed digitally, ask if the signature can be printed in blue. If you have pre-printed stock, see if blue can be used the next time. It is a simple change but gives the impression that every letter was hand signed.

Choose the date of the event very carefully. Try to avoid conflicts and remember that Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday is best.

Maintain a complete record of the names, addresses, emails and telephone and fax numbers of all supporters, sponsors, donors, volunteers, suppliers and key contacts.