Comments on: After I Give, What Do I Get? http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2008/04/30/after-i-give-what-do-i-get/ Written for do-it-yourself nonprofit marketers and one-person nonprofit communications departments. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:13:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Deborah http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2008/04/30/after-i-give-what-do-i-get/#comment-45731 Deborah Tue, 27 May 2008 18:06:22 +0000 http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/?p=353#comment-45731 great idea! I would encourage you to consider making the greatest number of contributions you can, for the most part. I'd also like to encourage you to consider making a point to contact Non-profits that arguably are trying to "change the world," such as domestic violence programs, etc., to see if THEY are any better at communication... (my guess: nope.) thanks for all you do. this blog is a wonderful resource. thanks, Deborah great idea! I would encourage you to consider making the greatest number of contributions you can, for the most part. I’d also like to encourage you to consider making a point to contact Non-profits that arguably are trying to “change the world,” such as domestic violence programs, etc., to see if THEY are any better at communication… (my guess: nope.)

thanks for all you do. this blog is a wonderful resource.
thanks,
Deborah

]]> By: Gena Rotstein http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2008/04/30/after-i-give-what-do-i-get/#comment-44815 Gena Rotstein Thu, 08 May 2008 22:05:35 +0000 http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/?p=353#comment-44815 Hi Kivi, In response to your post "After I Give, What do I Get" I was wondering if I could put that up on my blog. I am a Community Investment Strategist and that is one of the many questions my clients ask. As what you should fund, I guess you should think about the type of impact you'd like to have. Is it building internal capacity of organizations so that they can do the work they want to do, or is it project specific? What is your risk tolerance? The other thing you will have to consider is the cost that is associated with "sending something" after receiving a donation. Charities typically evaluate the cost:benefit ratio to raising a dollar. This is where donor stewardship and cultivation comes into play. In my experience, donors who give over $1000 typically get additional communication. All the best, Gena Rotstein Hi Kivi,
In response to your post “After I Give, What do I Get” I was wondering if I could put that up on my blog. I am a Community Investment Strategist and that is one of the many questions my clients ask.

As what you should fund, I guess you should think about the type of impact you’d like to have. Is it building internal capacity of organizations so that they can do the work they want to do, or is it project specific? What is your risk tolerance?

The other thing you will have to consider is the cost that is associated with “sending something” after receiving a donation. Charities typically evaluate the cost:benefit ratio to raising a dollar. This is where donor stewardship and cultivation comes into play. In my experience, donors who give over $1000 typically get additional communication.

All the best,
Gena Rotstein

]]> By: Kivi Leroux Miller http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2008/04/30/after-i-give-what-do-i-get/#comment-44777 Kivi Leroux Miller Wed, 07 May 2008 20:44:48 +0000 http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/?p=353#comment-44777 Trust me, I will definitely ask to be removed from any mailing lists of orgs who I don't want to support long-term (assuming that I actually get more than just a thank you letter from them). I am hoping that quite a few will impress me enough that I'll give more long-term, which is one reason why I'm only giving to orgs whose missions I believe in. I'm also not going the $10 donation route --- will likely to $20-25 and go from there. I'm getting the list together and hope to make the donations some time next week. Thanks to all for commenting! Kivi Trust me, I will definitely ask to be removed from any mailing lists of orgs who I don’t want to support long-term (assuming that I actually get more than just a thank you letter from them). I am hoping that quite a few will impress me enough that I’ll give more long-term, which is one reason why I’m only giving to orgs whose missions I believe in.

I’m also not going the $10 donation route — will likely to $20-25 and go from there. I’m getting the list together and hope to make the donations some time next week.

Thanks to all for commenting!

Kivi

]]> By: Anne Mawdsley http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2008/04/30/after-i-give-what-do-i-get/#comment-44774 Anne Mawdsley Wed, 07 May 2008 20:20:36 +0000 http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/?p=353#comment-44774 As a fundraiser, I would say give more money to fewer groups. The cost of entering your donation and sending you a thank you letter already eats into that $10 donation, to say nothing of future mailings as all organizations will hope to receive future gifts from you. When you are done with this experiment, I also think you should ask to have your name taken off any mailing lists for whom you don’t intend to sustain support. As a fundraiser, I would say give more money to fewer groups. The cost of entering your donation and sending you a thank you letter already eats into that $10 donation, to say nothing of future mailings as all organizations will hope to receive future gifts from you. When you are done with this experiment, I also think you should ask to have your name taken off any mailing lists for whom you don’t intend to sustain support.

]]> By: Carla http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2008/04/30/after-i-give-what-do-i-get/#comment-44724 Carla Tue, 06 May 2008 20:34:04 +0000 http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/?p=353#comment-44724 I agree in chosing, lets say, 4 or 5 missions fields and then in each field pick out 4, 5 or 6 nonprofits (some with web presence and others not). As Roger Carr suggested this would be ideal making it easier to come to solid, valuable conclusions. The only thing is, in my opinion, I would rather donate 20$ and not 10$. I dont think you're going to get substantial feedback on such a minimal amount as 10$ - specially from those organizations that dont use new media. I agree in chosing, lets say, 4 or 5 missions fields and then in each field pick out 4, 5 or 6 nonprofits (some with web presence and others not). As Roger Carr suggested this would be ideal making it easier to come to solid, valuable conclusions. The only thing is, in my opinion, I would rather donate 20$ and not 10$. I dont think you’re going to get substantial feedback on such a minimal amount as 10$ - specially from those organizations that dont use new media.

]]> By: Ali http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2008/04/30/after-i-give-what-do-i-get/#comment-44535 Ali Fri, 02 May 2008 19:11:27 +0000 http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/?p=353#comment-44535 I did this exactly this winter. For Christmas, I donated to 12 organizations (all snail mail though I love your idea of using different channels) to see what kind of stream I would get into. I’ve been generally disappointed in the response actually. Specifically, I got a couple phone calls, a handful of mail from almost every organization but NONE of them put me on their email list surprisingly! I even gave my email in a letter and explicitly said "I look forward to learning more about your work." My hypothesis is that what you get will largely depend on through what method you give as well as the size of the organization – tiny will do a lot, medium won't and large will put you in a bulk stream and give you a lot but most will be impersonal. I did this exactly this winter. For Christmas, I donated to 12 organizations (all snail mail though I love your idea of using different channels) to see what kind of stream I would get into. I’ve been generally disappointed in the response actually.

Specifically, I got a couple phone calls, a handful of mail from almost every organization but NONE of them put me on their email list surprisingly! I even gave my email in a letter and explicitly said “I look forward to learning more about your work.” My hypothesis is that what you get will largely depend on through what method you give as well as the size of the organization – tiny will do a lot, medium won’t and large will put you in a bulk stream and give you a lot but most will be impersonal.

]]> By: Jae Watkins http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2008/04/30/after-i-give-what-do-i-get/#comment-44534 Jae Watkins Fri, 02 May 2008 19:07:51 +0000 http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/?p=353#comment-44534 There is a great new group in the Bronx, NY that has a facebook donation element. Its called the Greenworkers Cooperative (http://www.greenworker.coop/website_j/) and the facebook page is http://apps.facebook.com/causes/63213?h=plvw&recruiter_id=13563760. There is a great new group in the Bronx, NY that has a facebook donation element. Its called the Greenworkers Cooperative (http://www.greenworker.coop/website_j/) and the facebook page is http://apps.facebook.com/causes/63213?h=plvw&recruiter_id=13563760.

]]> By: Roger Carr http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2008/04/30/after-i-give-what-do-i-get/#comment-44530 Roger Carr Fri, 02 May 2008 17:52:17 +0000 http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/?p=353#comment-44530 Carmen, I believe the organization needs to view the new donor (who only gives a small amount initially)with a lifetime value. This includes the potential for receiving future donations, volunteering, etc. This might result in different decisions regarding costs. I also believe technlogy needs to be embraced and exploited to allow some level of regular communication with all donors without cost having to be a major factor. I expect Kivi is going to find some interesting patterns from nonprofits regarding their perception of the new donor and their view of using technology. Carmen,

I believe the organization needs to view the new donor (who only gives a small amount initially)with a lifetime value. This includes the potential for receiving future donations, volunteering, etc. This might result in different decisions regarding costs. I also believe technlogy needs to be embraced and exploited to allow some level of regular communication with all donors without cost having to be a major factor. I expect Kivi is going to find some interesting patterns from nonprofits regarding their perception of the new donor and their view of using technology.

]]> By: Carmen http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2008/04/30/after-i-give-what-do-i-get/#comment-44489 Carmen Thu, 01 May 2008 14:28:10 +0000 http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/?p=353#comment-44489 Our organization serves a community of more than a million people with a staff of around 80. Our fund development dept. has 2 staff. We send thank you notes to all donors with their tax receipt for whatever amount, and appreciate all donations, but do not follow through with further personalized correspondence to donors who give less than $50 because we simply don't have the resources. We've also had complaints from donors who think it's a waste of their donation for us to send more mail to them. So you may see differences depending on the amount from one organization - not because they don't appreciate people giving what they can, but because they have to alot their resources wisely and responsibly. Our organization serves a community of more than a million people with a staff of around 80. Our fund development dept. has 2 staff. We send thank you notes to all donors with their tax receipt for whatever amount, and appreciate all donations, but do not follow through with further personalized correspondence to donors who give less than $50 because we simply don’t have the resources. We’ve also had complaints from donors who think it’s a waste of their donation for us to send more mail to them. So you may see differences depending on the amount from one organization - not because they don’t appreciate people giving what they can, but because they have to alot their resources wisely and responsibly.

]]> By: Kivi Leroux Miller http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2008/04/30/after-i-give-what-do-i-get/#comment-44467 Kivi Leroux Miller Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:01:15 +0000 http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/?p=353#comment-44467 Hi Roger, Yeah, I'm thinking about just doing the smaller donations, but I don't think I can track more than 30 groups. I might go the $10 route and save some of the $500 budgeted and make some second donations earlier in the process . . .thanks for the perspective. Kivi Hi Roger,
Yeah, I’m thinking about just doing the smaller donations, but I don’t think I can track more than 30 groups. I might go the $10 route and save some of the $500 budgeted and make some second donations earlier in the process . . .thanks for the perspective.
Kivi

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