Donor and Member Retention through Donor Relations

Lynne M. Wester @donorguru

Director of Stewardship and Donor RecognitionYeshiva University

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Donor Recognition and Stewardship

• Is there a better way to do this?• What are some ways that we can better

serve our donors?• What is someone else doing that we’re

not?• Is there an app for that?• Making Innovation a Priority

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Who are we talking about?

• High Level Annual Donors• People Falling through the Cracks

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The Facts, Just the Facts

What is your retention rate? • At YU we went from 48% to 72% in three years

of concentrated donor relations efforts• What would a 10% increase in retention mean

to your organization?

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The “Blanket” Approach

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Data Analysis and Leveling

• A. Donors of 25K- 100K TPF for the previous FY or Cumulative Lifetime TPF of 100K to 1 Million

• B. Donors of 100K-500K TPF for the previous FY or Cumulative Lifetime TPF of 1 Million plus

• TPF= Total Philanthropic Funds=Cash+Pledges

• A.734 constituents• B.186 constituents

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Other Groups Added

• Loyalty Donors• First Time Donors• Anyone who needs extra touch and care

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Calendar Approach

• August- Thank You Postcard• September- Rosh Hashanah email greeting• October- Phone Call from Student• November- Donor Recognition Event• December- Hanukkah Postcard• January- Invitations to YU Museum Event• February- Hand Written Note• March- Pesach Postcard• April- Impact of Giving Report• May- Commencement Invitation and Webcast

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Impact Piece

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Impact Piece

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Postcards

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Emails

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44% open Rate!

Thank a Donor Week

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Building Updates

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Video

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Thank a Thon

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Website

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Questions? Comments

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• Lynne Wester• wester@yu.edu• www.donorrelationsguru.com• Friend me on Facebook• Follow me on Twitter @donorguru