Tag Archives: donor psychology
When not to thank your donors
How to begin a fundraising appeal – that’s a tough one. You win or lose donors in those first few seconds. So the opening has to be spot on, and that’s not easy. Which is probably why so many appeals … Continue reading
Posted in copywriting, fundraising
Tagged copywriting, donation, donor psychology, donors, fundraising, nonprofit
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This can torpedo a fundraising appeal
There’s a structure that’s often used for fundraising appeals even though it’s not really all that good for getting donors to give. This post at the Better Fundraising Company blog shows us what this structure is, and it goes something … Continue reading
Posted in copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising, nonprofit
Tagged behavior, charity, copywriting, donation, donor psychology, fundraising
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Get fundraising emails opened
With all the articles and blog posts on email fundraising, it’s easy to get the impression that the subject line reigns supreme in the ongoing battle to get fundraising emails opened. It’s not that the subject line doesn’t matter – … Continue reading
Posted in copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising
Tagged advertising, copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising, nonprofit
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Not doing a year-end appeal? Uh-Oh
December is the biggest giving month. So, if you’re not doing a year-end appeal, you’re probably missing out. That’s because, according to nonprofit software firm Neon: 31% of all annual giving takes place in December. 12% of all giving happens … Continue reading
Posted in copywriting, fundraising
Tagged copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising
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Donor retention keeps falling – what to do about it
Donor retention was down again last year. It’s part of a steady downward trend that’s been going on for the past decade. What’s going on? There are four possible reasons for donors’ increasing lack of loyalty: Completing the story in … Continue reading
Posted in copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising
Tagged copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising
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5 ways to build rapport with donors
If we want to engage donors, it’s important to reach out to them on their terms and in ways that avoid being seen as too pushy or too salesy. So, we want to build a friendly rapport with donors and … Continue reading
Posted in copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising
Tagged copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising
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Why donors give
Thanks go to fundraising expert Tom Ahern for this. In his excellent e-newsletter, he included the moving and inspiring words of Damian O’Broin on why he’s a fundraiser. The occasion was the opening of the 2017 Ask Direct Fundraising Summer … Continue reading
Posted in copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising
Tagged copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising
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Why informing donors doesn’t work in fundraising
It’s all too easy to think that if donors had enough information about a nonprofit’s work that they would donate in droves. But, unfortunately, that’s not the case. Truth is, as fundraisers we run into a roadblock called confirmation bias. … Continue reading
Posted in donor psychology, fundraising
Tagged donor psychology, donors, fundraising
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Rage donating — what does it mean for our fundraising?
Donations to progressive charities took off after President Trump was elected. And since then, this kind of ‘backlash’ giving has come to be known as rage donating. It’s been called a lazy, middle-class citizen’s form of protest as well as a … Continue reading
What’s wrong with using emotion in fundraising?
When we use strong emotions in our donor appeals, is it poverty porn or just good fundraising? See my guest post on the topic here. One of the conclusions of a recent article in SOFI is that negative emotions can … Continue reading
Posted in copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising
Tagged copywriting, donor psychology
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