Remember What Donors Are Looking For in Your Non-Profit Organisation

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Every non-profit has a need – but this doesn’t quite cut in in today’s environment, it’s not enough to persuade a donor to give to you. A few weeks ago @brownrach wrote about what motivates your donors to give to your organisation. This segues quite nicely to exploring that today’s donors seeing themselves as investors – not only are they investing in your organisation, they are investing in improving people’s lives. So if you can articulate these messages though testimonials, real-life stories and statistics via your publications - how you have been directly improving people’s lives you have a much greater chance at building long-term relationships with your donors.

What philanthropic investors are looking for in a non-profit organisation:

• A compelling mission that engages them in issues

• A clear vision that brings about change

• A strategic plan

• A solid track record

• A high return on their investment

• If your board members donate  

• Thanks and recognition

• Regular information and feedback

• Professional staff with energy, empathy and enthusiasm

• Potential for leverage / matching-funding

• Timely and open response to enquiries

• The ability to be part of decision making

• An opportunity to have fun with people they like with shared values in a collegial environment

• Emotional involvement

• A way to give back and do something significant

• The chance to ensure others have what they did or didn’t have

Niamh, @niamhini