thanks for everything! stewardship strategies for the small anti-violence organization alyson culin...
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Thanks For Everything! Stewardship Strategies For The Small Anti-Violence Organization
Alyson CulinDevelopment & Marketing DirectorOrange County Rape Crisis [email protected]
What Is Stewardship?
• Definition: Maintaining good relations with people who are already supporting your agency.
• NOT cultivation, which is bringing in new people.
• Today’s focus: Strategy around thanking• Consider resources and
return on investment (ROI)• Create a strategy, not a checklist
Stewardship
CultivationSolicitation
Who is Your Audience?
• Donors• Volunteers• Board of Directors (current and former)
• Staff (current and former)
• Grantors• ??
Thanking Donors – Process • Each task, who is responsible for it, and general timeline
• Consider separation of duties
• Legal and contractual (grant) requirements• Tax deductible info
• Technical info• How to use the database• Who to contact if difficulties• Templates for letters
• Alternate instructions for different types of giving• Different plan for different levels of giving• Checks vs credit card vs online giving• Recurring gifts• In-kind donations• Corporations, businesses, groups
ASC gets and opens mail
DMD processes deposit
(ASC takes deposit to bank)
(ED approves deposit)
(Bookkeeper…)
ASC enters donations into
database and prints TY letters/envelopes
ED signs and adds a short handwritten
message
DMD adds a personal note to
contacts
ASC stuffs, mails. New donors get
welcome package.
ED writes note card for
acknowledgements
ED writes handwritten note card within about a month
Board (Exec Cmte) calls $100+ donors
within about a month
Thanking Donors – The TY Letter
• Warm, sincere, quick.
• New letter every 6-12 months.
• Special letter for each campaign or event.
Thanking Donors – Components of the TY Letter• Date• Donor’s name and address• Personal greeting (i.e. “Dear Mary,” NOT “Dear friend,”)• IMPACT of gift
• Donor-centered language (i.e. “you,” “your gift,” etc.)• Feelings > Facts
• Special events, recent news, etc. Offer a tour/visit.• Who the donor should contact with questions.• Real signature with a personalized note.• Tax info
Thanking Donors – The TY Call• Short time investment and has the potential for large
impact• Much easier to convince your Board to make TY calls
rather than solicitation calls!• Components:
• Hello• Thank you• Pause• Question• Thank you
Call Date Donor Name Left message or chatted Notes
Sample Call Report Form
Thanking Donors – Ideas?• Handwritten note card• Phone call• Email• Call or note from the ED• Call or note from the Board• Call or note from a program staff member• Note from a client• Photograph of your agency in action• Invite for a tour• Lunch or appreciation event for biggest donors• ???
Appreciating Volunteers• Communicating authentic gratitude• Ideas
• Volunteer socials: parties, potlucks • Provide meals at trainings, meetings• Small gifts• Recognition in newsletter, social media, etc.• Volunteer awards• Saying a simple thank you• Writing/emailing notes• ???
Interacting with Supporters• Important to have real relationships and display sincere,
personalized gratitude• Create opportunities to interact that don’t ask for money
(or have a passive ask)• Communications that don’t ask for money. Personal is
best.• Identify biggest supporters and create a specialized plan
for them.
Takeaways
• SINCERITY
• Create a strategy, not a checklist• Consider resources & ROI
• What is one idea from today that you want to try to implement immediately?