Let's connect with your donors - past, current, and potential
Donors want to know you’re making a difference, but that difference needs to live and breathe and sing. And donors need to feel connected to your cause and your work.
Donor appeals are more than a collection of facts. Stories are more powerful than statistics.
What does your work look like—and why should donors care? It's not just about what they know, it's about what they feel. They are spending financially, but what do they stand to gain emotionally?
To really reach donors on that level, let's ask, what is the “why” behind their donation decisions? And how can we truly connect with that motivation - without being overly dramatic or condescending?
It's different for each nonprofit. It may be different for various sections of your donor base or separate services you provide. We’ll analyze your target donors together, then motivate them to make a decision and donate today.
Donor appeals are more than a collection of facts. Stories are more powerful than statistics.
What does your work look like—and why should donors care? It's not just about what they know, it's about what they feel. They are spending financially, but what do they stand to gain emotionally?
To really reach donors on that level, let's ask, what is the “why” behind their donation decisions? And how can we truly connect with that motivation - without being overly dramatic or condescending?
It's different for each nonprofit. It may be different for various sections of your donor base or separate services you provide. We’ll analyze your target donors together, then motivate them to make a decision and donate today.
Included:
Which package fits your needs?
The project depends on your goals and the current state of your donor communications. Maybe you’ve got social media covered, but you don’t have time to write an email sequence? I'm here to fill in the gaps. We’ll coordinate and collaborate to achieve a unified plan and a consistent voice.
Each option offers 3 packages in different tiers. These are just some examples - there are endless ways to interact with donors. Contact me for further pricing info, or let me know what you're looking for.
The end-of-year donation campaign. The end of the year is the perfect time to ask for gifts because there's a baked-in deadline. Deadline = motivation. It's effective. It's also a fun opportunity to recap what you've accomplished throughout the year.
The email welcome sequence. When people sign up for your emails, they're already excited. It's the perfect time to inspire them to take action and donate. They're also looking for more connection with you. A welcome sequence nurtures that relationship with potential new donors from the start.
The donor re-engagement email sequence. Do you have past donors who have faded away? It's unlikely that people who once cared about your mission have totally lost interest in your field. Maybe they've just started to tune it out. You need to get their attention in a different way.
The big event campaign. An event needs fanfare and drama to draw attention, boost excitement, and gain momentum. But this package also includes post-event follow-up, where many nonprofits miss a crucial opportunity. We'll send one email the day after the event to capture straggling donations, and then another, a few weeks later, to thank your donors by sharing what you accomplished.
The email welcome sequence. When people sign up for your emails, they're already excited. It's the perfect time to inspire them to take action and donate. They're also looking for more connection with you. A welcome sequence nurtures that relationship with potential new donors from the start.
The donor re-engagement email sequence. Do you have past donors who have faded away? It's unlikely that people who once cared about your mission have totally lost interest in your field. Maybe they've just started to tune it out. You need to get their attention in a different way.
The big event campaign. An event needs fanfare and drama to draw attention, boost excitement, and gain momentum. But this package also includes post-event follow-up, where many nonprofits miss a crucial opportunity. We'll send one email the day after the event to capture straggling donations, and then another, a few weeks later, to thank your donors by sharing what you accomplished.
The direct mail donor appeal. Direct main functions a little differently because people hold it in their hands instead of scrolling on their screens. This works in our favor, giving us a unique opportunity to make your work seem real. You've just got to keep their attention long enough - and ask often enough - that they'll be inspired before they put it down.
The newsletter series. A crucial way to keep your readers up-to-date - by showcasing your work, emphasizing your impact, and highlighting current needs - so that they understand why their support matters. I offer a starter package of one or three newsletters, and then we can move up to one per quarter, one per month, or one per week.
The newsletter series. A crucial way to keep your readers up-to-date - by showcasing your work, emphasizing your impact, and highlighting current needs - so that they understand why their support matters. I offer a starter package of one or three newsletters, and then we can move up to one per quarter, one per month, or one per week.
Contact me today to discuss what these packages could look like for your organization and how they could propel you toward your marketing goals. (Or contact me if you're looking for something else!)
My method: How do we appeal to donors?
This method grabs attention, creates an emotional connection, and provokes a response:
- Describe the problem, clearly and urgently.
- Tell vivid narratives about people whose lives have changed—or could change, due to the donor’s generosity.
- Explain how their donations fuel specific elements of your work.
- Call to action, ask again, and thank the donor.
This service is about solving a problem. Whether you want to nurture current relationships or inspire first-time donors, you need more and bigger gifts. And you probably don’t have enough time or staff to ask enough donors in enough ways. So this service will be tailored to your specific needs.
My process: How will the project move forward?
1. Brainstorming and discovery meeting
I’ll get to know your organization - from vision to voice, from mission to method, from inspiration to impact. I’ll enjoy hearing your perspective and hopes for this project, and I’ll ask you the right questions to get the information I need. This meeting provides assurance that I understand what you're all about, and it prepares me to present you to the word faithfully.
2. Research
Send me everything that could help me understand your nonprofit or your campaign. I’ll read through your website, check out your social media, and review any other documents or information you provide. Next, I’ll conduct any additional research to prepare me for the project. I'll create a research report that offers insight into the current landscape of your topic and/or provides comments on your current donor communications.
3. Brand style guide
If you don’t have one yet, we’ll create a brand positioning and communications style guide. The guide defines and captures your organization's vision, personality, audience, voice, and more. This will help you develop or focus your marketing approach, and it will help me execute your ideas in a way that stays authentic to your organization. This may involve a second meeting, now that I’ve finished reviewing all the information about your nonprofit.
4. Structural outline
Next, I’ll create a structural outline of our strategic approach - which probably includes some updates, encouragement, and stories that are separate from direct asks. This gives you the opportunity to provide feedback before I dive in.
Send me everything that could help me understand your nonprofit or your campaign. I’ll read through your website, check out your social media, and review any other documents or information you provide. Next, I’ll conduct any additional research to prepare me for the project. I'll create a research report that offers insight into the current landscape of your topic and/or provides comments on your current donor communications.
3. Brand style guide
If you don’t have one yet, we’ll create a brand positioning and communications style guide. The guide defines and captures your organization's vision, personality, audience, voice, and more. This will help you develop or focus your marketing approach, and it will help me execute your ideas in a way that stays authentic to your organization. This may involve a second meeting, now that I’ve finished reviewing all the information about your nonprofit.
4. Structural outline
Next, I’ll create a structural outline of our strategic approach - which probably includes some updates, encouragement, and stories that are separate from direct asks. This gives you the opportunity to provide feedback before I dive in.
5. Interviews
If needed or desired, depending on the project, I will conduct interviews of anyone we want to feature in our communications. Again, I’m skilled at asking the right questions (and very easy to talk to), making it an easy experience for the interviewee while I get all the information I need. Occasionally, I’ll send a few follow-up questions via email.
6. Writing the project
After the extensive preparation of steps 1-5, the writing process usually goes smoothly and quickly. Although the other steps are crucial, this is my favorite one. I’ll take all the information, analyze and synthesize it, and turn it into beautiful content that presents you powerfully.
7. Feedback
You’re up next - time to review. Let me know whether the style captures your org’s voice and whether the content captures your overall mission and specific goal. If needed, I’ll make any desired edits.
8. Implementation
This step is for you, too. Now that we have a final product we both love, it’s time to send it out into the world. Track it, if possible, to measure our success.
After the extensive preparation of steps 1-5, the writing process usually goes smoothly and quickly. Although the other steps are crucial, this is my favorite one. I’ll take all the information, analyze and synthesize it, and turn it into beautiful content that presents you powerfully.
7. Feedback
You’re up next - time to review. Let me know whether the style captures your org’s voice and whether the content captures your overall mission and specific goal. If needed, I’ll make any desired edits.
8. Implementation
This step is for you, too. Now that we have a final product we both love, it’s time to send it out into the world. Track it, if possible, to measure our success.
So how can I help you achieve your marketing goals?
Ok, it’s my turn to call you to action. Contact me today to discuss the current state of your donor relationships and fundraising communications. How can I fill in the gaps?