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Ask Donors to Give Again with Positive Reinforcement

It’s a pretty common experience. Someone you haven’t talked to in a long time – months, even years – suddenly messages you out of the blue. But rather than ask how you’re doing or catching up for lost time, they immediately ask for a favor.

It’s not that you’re unhappy to help – in fact, you could really care about their situation and want to lend a hand. But there’s something about being asked abruptly for a favor – especially after not talking for a long time – that can leave people less excited to take action. It doesn’t communicate any interest or appreciation for them as people.

Spotlight

CareSource

Health Care with Heart. It is more than a tagline; it’s how we do business. CareSource has been providing life-changing health care to people and communities for nearly 30 years and we will continue to be a transformative force in the industry by placing people over profits. CareSource is and will always be members first. Even as we grow, we remember the reason we are here – to make a difference in our members’ lives by improving their health and well-being. Today, CareSource offers a lifetime of health coverage to nearly 2 million members through plan offerings including Marketplace, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid. With our team of 4,000 employees located across the country, we continue to clear a path to better life for our members. Visit the "Life"​ section to see how we are living our mission in the states we serve.

OTHER ARTICLES
Nonprofit Management

5 Steps to Increase Community Awareness for Your Nonprofit

Article | July 28, 2022

Your community can potentially boost your nonprofit’s efforts and take your organization to new heights. But how do you get the community to fall in love with your nonprofit? This can be tough for both established and startup nonprofits alike. If your community isn’t as involved as you’d like, launch a community awareness campaign and endear yourself to your community in 5 simple steps!

Read More
Nonprofit Management

Prioritizing Money Builds Fake Donor Relationships

Article | July 11, 2022

The relationship costs too much money, so I will save money and not pursue it. And the result of that decision is disastrous. Relationships take time. You know that. Your boss knows it. But we ignore time because that is how we have set up things. There is a budget to manage. A forecast to make. So, we go for the fake relationship. One where we pretend to care, but only if we get the money. We do that — not because we believe it’s the right thing to do but — because we can’t see any other way to deliver on expectations. And that is the dilemma in major gifts. The push is for instant gratification. We are dealing with a situation right now where the authority figure does not value relationships. She says she does. She even claims to have a value set that cherishes relationships. But the money is the real value. And the need to grab it is the central drive. So, she is pushing on her major gift officers (MGOs) to get the money and is even threatening to do away with the major gifts program because it is not delivering. But when we uncover what “not delivering” means in her view, it is not that each MGO is not producing revenue from the same donors over and above last year. Nope. It is that each isn’t producing enough revenue quickly enough. The real story in this organization is that some of the other fundraising programs are not performing, and major gifts needs to be the scapegoat. It’s all about the money. This is so sad because these are good people — all of them, including the authority figure. It is sad because the plan to move major gifts into real relationships is facing failure. And that bothers Jeff and me — not because it’s our plan for the organization. No, it bothers us because there are good MGOs and good donors who must revert back to a fake relationship. And that is not good. One of our major objectives is to influence fundraisers and nonprofit leaders to highly value and respect donors. When we succeed at that, and we do, more often than not, it brings donors, MGOs and leaders a tremendous amount of joy and satisfaction. And, it brings the money. You should see the celebration! But when money is valued over relationship, it is a dark and depressing time for us. That is why the situation I described earlier is so disturbing. It’s not that we are going to lose something. No, that is not it. It’s that some very good MGOs and some very good donors will be forced to live in superficiality and shallowness. And that is not good for anyone. And it certainly is not good for the economic well-being of the nonprofit. Make a commitment today to real relationships with your donors. And if your organization does not support that, try to influence it to change. If the organization will not change, move on. You have a choice.

Read More
Fundraising

5 Ways Nonprofits can Access Corporate Philanthropy

Article | July 15, 2022

Most nonprofits know about corporate sponsorship, but have you tried matching gifts and volunteer grants? Has a business ever donated goods or services to your nonprofit? What about a business donating to a cause or capital campaign? If you haven’t explored corporate philanthropy options, chances are you’re leaving money on the table. Corporate philanthropy programs are a great way for nonprofits to raise crucial funds. Plus, there are often non-monetary benefits that add additional incentive to embrace a business’s social responsibility program.

Read More

The Ultimate Donor Relations Strategy to Increase Member Retention

Article | April 17, 2020

A common mistake nonprofits make is spending all their resources and efforts on marketing and attracting new donors or members. Your initial conversation rates may be great, but what happens after a year, when it’s time for them to renew? A lot of organizations struggle with their retention rates. They work really hard on their renewal appeals, only to see declining numbers month after month. Of course, a number of factors could be at play here: perhaps the donor is no longer interested; their financial situation has changed and they no longer have capacity; maybe they were supporting a specific program or project that has now been completed.

Read More
Nonprofit Management

Non-Profits Cannot Afford to Ignore These Business Practices

Article | July 28, 2022

Your community can potentially boost your nonprofit’s efforts and take your organization to new heights. But how do you get the community to fall in love with your nonprofit? This can be tough for both established and startup nonprofits alike. If your community isn’t as involved as you’d like, launch a community awareness campaign and endear yourself to your community in 5 simple steps!

Read More
Nonprofit Management

Top 5 Trends for Non-Profits in 2022

Article | July 11, 2022

The relationship costs too much money, so I will save money and not pursue it. And the result of that decision is disastrous. Relationships take time. You know that. Your boss knows it. But we ignore time because that is how we have set up things. There is a budget to manage. A forecast to make. So, we go for the fake relationship. One where we pretend to care, but only if we get the money. We do that — not because we believe it’s the right thing to do but — because we can’t see any other way to deliver on expectations. And that is the dilemma in major gifts. The push is for instant gratification. We are dealing with a situation right now where the authority figure does not value relationships. She says she does. She even claims to have a value set that cherishes relationships. But the money is the real value. And the need to grab it is the central drive. So, she is pushing on her major gift officers (MGOs) to get the money and is even threatening to do away with the major gifts program because it is not delivering. But when we uncover what “not delivering” means in her view, it is not that each MGO is not producing revenue from the same donors over and above last year. Nope. It is that each isn’t producing enough revenue quickly enough. The real story in this organization is that some of the other fundraising programs are not performing, and major gifts needs to be the scapegoat. It’s all about the money. This is so sad because these are good people — all of them, including the authority figure. It is sad because the plan to move major gifts into real relationships is facing failure. And that bothers Jeff and me — not because it’s our plan for the organization. No, it bothers us because there are good MGOs and good donors who must revert back to a fake relationship. And that is not good. One of our major objectives is to influence fundraisers and nonprofit leaders to highly value and respect donors. When we succeed at that, and we do, more often than not, it brings donors, MGOs and leaders a tremendous amount of joy and satisfaction. And, it brings the money. You should see the celebration! But when money is valued over relationship, it is a dark and depressing time for us. That is why the situation I described earlier is so disturbing. It’s not that we are going to lose something. No, that is not it. It’s that some very good MGOs and some very good donors will be forced to live in superficiality and shallowness. And that is not good for anyone. And it certainly is not good for the economic well-being of the nonprofit. Make a commitment today to real relationships with your donors. And if your organization does not support that, try to influence it to change. If the organization will not change, move on. You have a choice.

Read More
Fundraising

The Power of Film for Philanthropy

Article | July 15, 2022

Most nonprofits know about corporate sponsorship, but have you tried matching gifts and volunteer grants? Has a business ever donated goods or services to your nonprofit? What about a business donating to a cause or capital campaign? If you haven’t explored corporate philanthropy options, chances are you’re leaving money on the table. Corporate philanthropy programs are a great way for nonprofits to raise crucial funds. Plus, there are often non-monetary benefits that add additional incentive to embrace a business’s social responsibility program.

Read More

The Ultimate Donor Relations Strategy to Increase Member Retention

Article | April 17, 2020

A common mistake nonprofits make is spending all their resources and efforts on marketing and attracting new donors or members. Your initial conversation rates may be great, but what happens after a year, when it’s time for them to renew? A lot of organizations struggle with their retention rates. They work really hard on their renewal appeals, only to see declining numbers month after month. Of course, a number of factors could be at play here: perhaps the donor is no longer interested; their financial situation has changed and they no longer have capacity; maybe they were supporting a specific program or project that has now been completed.

Read More
MORE ARTICLES

Spotlight

CareSource

Health Care with Heart. It is more than a tagline; it’s how we do business. CareSource has been providing life-changing health care to people and communities for nearly 30 years and we will continue to be a transformative force in the industry by placing people over profits. CareSource is and will always be members first. Even as we grow, we remember the reason we are here – to make a difference in our members’ lives by improving their health and well-being. Today, CareSource offers a lifetime of health coverage to nearly 2 million members through plan offerings including Marketplace, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid. With our team of 4,000 employees located across the country, we continue to clear a path to better life for our members. Visit the "Life"​ section to see how we are living our mission in the states we serve.

Related News

Nonprofit Technology

Digitunity is Connecting Military Families With Technology

Digitunity | November 14, 2022

Frequent relocation takes a significant toll on military personnel and their families. A lack of technology can make this even more difficult. That's why Digitunity partners with organizations including Tech for Troops, Heroes Deserve Help, The Outlook Foundation, and The Armed Services YMCA, to connect military families, regardless of location, with devices like computers for remote learning and work. The technology gap between those who don't have access to the internet and digital devices versus those who do is referred to as the digital divide. This disparity prevents underserved groups from gaining access to the educational and economic resources that they need. Digitunity is a national nonprofit that bridges the digital divide by connecting technology donors with non-profit organizations serving people in need, including military families and veterans. "On average, military-connected kids attend 6-9 schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. This illustrates how relocation can have a negative impact on military families, Our partnerships with outstanding veterans' organizations in our Digital Opportunity Network put these life-changing devices in the hands of those who need them most. In this age of digital connectedness, we believe no military family member should go without the technology they need. That's why we're thrilled to be fostering collaboration, engaging boots-on-the-ground organizations, and putting in the work to keep these families connected." -Scot Henley, executive director of Digitunity. Military families rely on technology to manage deployment and frequent relocation. Communication with friends and family relies on email, voice, and video calls. Military spouses often work remote jobs to accommodate their frequent moves. Children often need to attend classes and complete homework online. When only the military service member is relocated, a laptop is often the only means of communication between them and their family. One Digitunity partner, The Outlook Foundation, provides computers to deployed service personnel and their stateside families, ensuring family members can communicate with one another and access the services they need. The Armed Services YMCA, another Digitunity partner, specializes in aiding junior enlisted military personnel and their families through social, educational, and recreational programs focused on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Many of these programs occur remotely through technology. About Digitunity: Since the 1980s, Digitunity has advanced digital inclusion by connecting donors of technology with organizations serving people in need. Our mission is to ensure everyone who needs a computer has one, along with robust internet connectivity and digital literacy skills.

Read More

Fundraising

Qgiv and Virtuous Partner to Create a Personalized Donor Experience

Qgiv | November 08, 2022

Qgiv, a leading provider of nonprofit fundraising technology, has partnered with Virtuous CRM to release a new integration that enriches donor information with giving behaviors. With this integration, fundraising professionals can automatically leverage the power of predictive technology to better engage, retain, and thank donors based on their unique giving history and preferences. Nonprofit fundraisers that utilize the integration will have a complete view of their donors’ preferences, giving history, wealth data, demographic information, and more to help them make data-backed predictions on when it’s best to connect with their donors and make an appeal. “Disparate systems and siloed data afflict the nonprofit industry, leaving fundraisers with minimal insight into the behaviors and trends that are unique to their donors, By seamlessly integrating our technologies, we’re bringing fundraisers into the future of visual data and predictive donor experiences to create deeper and more meaningful connections.” -Todd Baylis, president of Qgiv. Qgiv’s donation forms, event registration, text fundraising, peer to peer, and auction tools offer flexibility for events and campaigns that require unique settings beyond what a donor management system can traditionally offer. Out-of-the-box integration settings available in Qgiv make it easy to quickly connect and automatically sync the philanthropic actions captured within Qgiv into the Virtuous CRM. Custom mappings are also available for fundraisers who want to transfer specific data points to preselected fields within Virtuous. “We have worked closely with Qgiv to develop an integration that gives fundraisers an unparalleled view into their supporters, This partnership brings the data within Virtuous and Qgiv together so fundraisers can make strategic decisions based on a rich history of data that paints a complete view of the donor.” -Gabe Cooper, founder & CEO Virtuous. About Virtuous: Much more than a nonprofit CRM, Virtuous is the only responsive fundraising platform designed to help nonprofit teams build better donor relationships and increase impact with confidence. Virtuous helps unify fundraising, marketing, and donor development activities, ridding teams of redundant back-office tasks, and surfacing the insights and signals needed to deliver dynamic donor experiences at scale. About Qgiv: Qgiv, Inc. is a leading digital fundraising platform empowering 13,000+ nonprofit fundraisers to raise money for their causes while keeping costs low. Through online giving and event registration forms, text fundraising, peer-to-peer fundraisers, and auction events, Qgiv provides a full suite of fundraising solutions that integrate with industry-leading CRMs and email providers to provide a personalized giving experience for donors. Founded in 2007, they now serve more than 6,000 nonprofits in the US and Canada who have collectively raised over $2 billion using Qgiv’s platform. Qgiv is known for their free, award-winning customer service, customizable platform, and flexible pricing. Qgiv is committed to helping people fulfill their passion to make a difference for others by equipping fundraisers with tools and educational resources to advance their knowledge and move their missions forward.

Read More

Nonprofit Technology

GivingDNA Announces New Features to Help Nonprofits Identify Philanthropic Non-Donors and Crypto Donors

The Giving Block | October 19, 2022

GivingDNA, an all-in-one fundraising analytics, data visualization, and wealth profiling tool, is excited to introduce two new donor sets: philanthropic non-donors and cryptocurrency donors. These opportunity segments are pre-built to analyze your donors' giving behaviors, and then predict who an organization can reliably engage for that next gift, removing the guesswork and identifying prospects who have a tendency to give. The segments are also ready to use, so fundraisers are empowered to act on the new donor sets immediately. One of the newest opportunity segments is an organization's philanthropic non-donors — These constituents are already in your database and are actively supporting other nonprofits, but have yet to give to you. By using this segment, fundraisers can better understand acquisition opportunities already on file and the constituent motivations to better align messaging to resonate with the segment's values and interests. "In today's economic uncertainty, continued acquisition of new donors is just as important as retaining and stewarding the donors we have, The good news is, this segment is prime for conversion as they have familiarity with your organization. By leveraging this segment, you can better understand donor motivations and customize your case to their interests and draft your appeal accordingly." -Ryan Carpenter, Vice President of Client Success at GivingDNA. The second opportunity segment identifies potential cryptocurrency donors so fundraisers can begin stewarding them in a manner relevant to how they give. GivingDNA's unique crypto segment will be a game-changer for the industry, as these essential insights can drive a nonprofit's giving strategy for years to come. For example, fundraisers will determine how many donors use cryptocurrency and whether they should accept crypto donations. They will also identify a new generation of donors poised to give sizable gifts. According to The Giving Block, which provides an ecosystem for crypto donation, one nonprofit found its average crypto gift was $3,000 and its highest was $55,000. "Crypto cannot be ignored anymore, and we want to make it easier for marketers to target and serve those with this asset, This exciting new feature will help fundraisers identify crypto donors already in their files and open channels for those donors to make a greater impact in the organization." -Rebecca Gregory Segovia, General Manager of GivingDNA. The brilliant thing about this new opportunity through GivingDNA is that you don't have to understand crypto in order to receive it as a donation, said Pat Duffy, Co-Founder of The Giving Block. "The Giving Block makes it easy for nonprofits to accept crypto donations and immediately convert the gift to cash. This means that nonprofits have the potential to receive larger gifts and engage a younger donor audience, without having to worry about having an in-depth understanding of crypto. GivingDNA: GivingDNA is the next generation of wealth intelligence + data analytics that uniquely combines your internal data with external insights to inform all areas of your fundraising strategy, from annual fund segmentation to mid/major gift prospecting and portfolio optimization. Fundraisers rely on GivingDNA for real-time data visualization to guide insights and strategy across their entire organization. The Giving Block: Founded in 2018, The Giving Block, a Shift4 company, is turning Crypto Philanthropy into one of the greatest forces for good on the planet by making cryptocurrency fundraising easy for nonprofits while empowering donors to give Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to their favorite causes. The Giving Block currently enables more than 1,000 mission-driven organizations, charities, universities, and faith-based organizations of all sizes to accept cryptocurrency donations and helps them maximize their fundraising outcomes with strategic consulting and personal support.

Read More

Nonprofit Technology

Digitunity is Connecting Military Families With Technology

Digitunity | November 14, 2022

Frequent relocation takes a significant toll on military personnel and their families. A lack of technology can make this even more difficult. That's why Digitunity partners with organizations including Tech for Troops, Heroes Deserve Help, The Outlook Foundation, and The Armed Services YMCA, to connect military families, regardless of location, with devices like computers for remote learning and work. The technology gap between those who don't have access to the internet and digital devices versus those who do is referred to as the digital divide. This disparity prevents underserved groups from gaining access to the educational and economic resources that they need. Digitunity is a national nonprofit that bridges the digital divide by connecting technology donors with non-profit organizations serving people in need, including military families and veterans. "On average, military-connected kids attend 6-9 schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. This illustrates how relocation can have a negative impact on military families, Our partnerships with outstanding veterans' organizations in our Digital Opportunity Network put these life-changing devices in the hands of those who need them most. In this age of digital connectedness, we believe no military family member should go without the technology they need. That's why we're thrilled to be fostering collaboration, engaging boots-on-the-ground organizations, and putting in the work to keep these families connected." -Scot Henley, executive director of Digitunity. Military families rely on technology to manage deployment and frequent relocation. Communication with friends and family relies on email, voice, and video calls. Military spouses often work remote jobs to accommodate their frequent moves. Children often need to attend classes and complete homework online. When only the military service member is relocated, a laptop is often the only means of communication between them and their family. One Digitunity partner, The Outlook Foundation, provides computers to deployed service personnel and their stateside families, ensuring family members can communicate with one another and access the services they need. The Armed Services YMCA, another Digitunity partner, specializes in aiding junior enlisted military personnel and their families through social, educational, and recreational programs focused on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Many of these programs occur remotely through technology. About Digitunity: Since the 1980s, Digitunity has advanced digital inclusion by connecting donors of technology with organizations serving people in need. Our mission is to ensure everyone who needs a computer has one, along with robust internet connectivity and digital literacy skills.

Read More

Fundraising

Qgiv and Virtuous Partner to Create a Personalized Donor Experience

Qgiv | November 08, 2022

Qgiv, a leading provider of nonprofit fundraising technology, has partnered with Virtuous CRM to release a new integration that enriches donor information with giving behaviors. With this integration, fundraising professionals can automatically leverage the power of predictive technology to better engage, retain, and thank donors based on their unique giving history and preferences. Nonprofit fundraisers that utilize the integration will have a complete view of their donors’ preferences, giving history, wealth data, demographic information, and more to help them make data-backed predictions on when it’s best to connect with their donors and make an appeal. “Disparate systems and siloed data afflict the nonprofit industry, leaving fundraisers with minimal insight into the behaviors and trends that are unique to their donors, By seamlessly integrating our technologies, we’re bringing fundraisers into the future of visual data and predictive donor experiences to create deeper and more meaningful connections.” -Todd Baylis, president of Qgiv. Qgiv’s donation forms, event registration, text fundraising, peer to peer, and auction tools offer flexibility for events and campaigns that require unique settings beyond what a donor management system can traditionally offer. Out-of-the-box integration settings available in Qgiv make it easy to quickly connect and automatically sync the philanthropic actions captured within Qgiv into the Virtuous CRM. Custom mappings are also available for fundraisers who want to transfer specific data points to preselected fields within Virtuous. “We have worked closely with Qgiv to develop an integration that gives fundraisers an unparalleled view into their supporters, This partnership brings the data within Virtuous and Qgiv together so fundraisers can make strategic decisions based on a rich history of data that paints a complete view of the donor.” -Gabe Cooper, founder & CEO Virtuous. About Virtuous: Much more than a nonprofit CRM, Virtuous is the only responsive fundraising platform designed to help nonprofit teams build better donor relationships and increase impact with confidence. Virtuous helps unify fundraising, marketing, and donor development activities, ridding teams of redundant back-office tasks, and surfacing the insights and signals needed to deliver dynamic donor experiences at scale. About Qgiv: Qgiv, Inc. is a leading digital fundraising platform empowering 13,000+ nonprofit fundraisers to raise money for their causes while keeping costs low. Through online giving and event registration forms, text fundraising, peer-to-peer fundraisers, and auction events, Qgiv provides a full suite of fundraising solutions that integrate with industry-leading CRMs and email providers to provide a personalized giving experience for donors. Founded in 2007, they now serve more than 6,000 nonprofits in the US and Canada who have collectively raised over $2 billion using Qgiv’s platform. Qgiv is known for their free, award-winning customer service, customizable platform, and flexible pricing. Qgiv is committed to helping people fulfill their passion to make a difference for others by equipping fundraisers with tools and educational resources to advance their knowledge and move their missions forward.

Read More

Nonprofit Technology

GivingDNA Announces New Features to Help Nonprofits Identify Philanthropic Non-Donors and Crypto Donors

The Giving Block | October 19, 2022

GivingDNA, an all-in-one fundraising analytics, data visualization, and wealth profiling tool, is excited to introduce two new donor sets: philanthropic non-donors and cryptocurrency donors. These opportunity segments are pre-built to analyze your donors' giving behaviors, and then predict who an organization can reliably engage for that next gift, removing the guesswork and identifying prospects who have a tendency to give. The segments are also ready to use, so fundraisers are empowered to act on the new donor sets immediately. One of the newest opportunity segments is an organization's philanthropic non-donors — These constituents are already in your database and are actively supporting other nonprofits, but have yet to give to you. By using this segment, fundraisers can better understand acquisition opportunities already on file and the constituent motivations to better align messaging to resonate with the segment's values and interests. "In today's economic uncertainty, continued acquisition of new donors is just as important as retaining and stewarding the donors we have, The good news is, this segment is prime for conversion as they have familiarity with your organization. By leveraging this segment, you can better understand donor motivations and customize your case to their interests and draft your appeal accordingly." -Ryan Carpenter, Vice President of Client Success at GivingDNA. The second opportunity segment identifies potential cryptocurrency donors so fundraisers can begin stewarding them in a manner relevant to how they give. GivingDNA's unique crypto segment will be a game-changer for the industry, as these essential insights can drive a nonprofit's giving strategy for years to come. For example, fundraisers will determine how many donors use cryptocurrency and whether they should accept crypto donations. They will also identify a new generation of donors poised to give sizable gifts. According to The Giving Block, which provides an ecosystem for crypto donation, one nonprofit found its average crypto gift was $3,000 and its highest was $55,000. "Crypto cannot be ignored anymore, and we want to make it easier for marketers to target and serve those with this asset, This exciting new feature will help fundraisers identify crypto donors already in their files and open channels for those donors to make a greater impact in the organization." -Rebecca Gregory Segovia, General Manager of GivingDNA. The brilliant thing about this new opportunity through GivingDNA is that you don't have to understand crypto in order to receive it as a donation, said Pat Duffy, Co-Founder of The Giving Block. "The Giving Block makes it easy for nonprofits to accept crypto donations and immediately convert the gift to cash. This means that nonprofits have the potential to receive larger gifts and engage a younger donor audience, without having to worry about having an in-depth understanding of crypto. GivingDNA: GivingDNA is the next generation of wealth intelligence + data analytics that uniquely combines your internal data with external insights to inform all areas of your fundraising strategy, from annual fund segmentation to mid/major gift prospecting and portfolio optimization. Fundraisers rely on GivingDNA for real-time data visualization to guide insights and strategy across their entire organization. The Giving Block: Founded in 2018, The Giving Block, a Shift4 company, is turning Crypto Philanthropy into one of the greatest forces for good on the planet by making cryptocurrency fundraising easy for nonprofits while empowering donors to give Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to their favorite causes. The Giving Block currently enables more than 1,000 mission-driven organizations, charities, universities, and faith-based organizations of all sizes to accept cryptocurrency donations and helps them maximize their fundraising outcomes with strategic consulting and personal support.

Read More

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