The February Question of the Month was, “What percentage of donors have you retained from two years ago?”
Here’s what you had to say:
- 37.5% of the respondents indicated they had retained 75-89% of their donors,
- 25% had retained 50-74% of donors, and
- 37.5% had retained below 50% of donors.
One individual noted that 36% of their donors increased gifts, while 32% decreased their gifts.
When asked how the economy has changed their stewardship of these donors, one respondent noted that it has “actually helped our stewardship. It has forced us to think outside the box which has meant we’ve come up with some really great creative and inexpensive ways to connect with our donors. And their feedback indicates they are more appreciative of these smaller, yet more personalized, gestures than anything we’ve done in the past.” Others noted that:
- donors are prioritizing their giving, making the need to state the urgency and importance of their gift that much more critical;
- we are starting to focus more on donor retention rather than on donor acquisition;
- our stewardship is based on a philosophy of maintaining good lines of communication and being certain to let them know what their generosity has accomplished.
Be sure to participate in the March Question of the Month to let us know what you think.
