The most important letter in direct mail fundraising never asks for a donation. Thank-you letters increase donor loyalty, strengthen relationships and increase your chances of receiving more gifts in the future, including major gifts and legacy gifts. But only if...
The following article is an excerpt from Penelope Burk's new book "Thanks! A Guide to Donor-Centred Fundraising". In the book, Burk reveals the results of her National Study on Donor Communication and Recognition, an expansive look the fundraising practices of...
Throw away those pewter pins and plaques and get out your phone books. New research shows that donors don't want formal recognition, just information. Speaking earlier this month at a meeting of the Vancouver chapter of the National Society of...
The following article is reprinted from the July and August 1999 issues of Gift Planning in Canada (TM), Copyright ©1999 by Planned Giving Today® Having been at the University of Victoria for 12 years now, I have had the privilege...
Recognition events are repetitive, boring and simply too long. In fact, being kept personally informed of what the gifts were achieving is the most important and valued form of donor recognition. That's what feedback from a donor recognition survey of...
The challenge of a recognition program is to be tactful and proceed with great care. According to Dr. Edward H. Pearce, Associate Director, Department of Development, Queen's University, "It is just good manners to say "Thank you" in an appropriate...
Donors today are looking for more than a cause they believe in before they will give to a charity, said Carol Oliver, executive director of the North York General Hospital Foundation, speaking to the National Society of Fund Raising Executives...
Charlotte Sutherland of Dalhousie University, and Sarah Rothwell of North York General Hospital Foundation told CAGP delegates that there are very good reasons to make donor recognition a high priority. "We all love our donors", said Rothwell, "but unfortunately we...
