There are plenty of listicles and advice blogs on the web about making thank you phone calls to charitable donors. But I don’t find any first-hand accounts for what it’s actually like to do it. So, I decided to share my experience as a board member making such calls.

Thank you calls increase future giving by over 30. One call per year is enough, even for monthly donors. Effectiveness of the call doesn’t drop off for the first 90 days after the donation.

Imagine this—your donor checks the mail, and tosses the envelope containing your appeal letter into the recycle bin, unopened. How do you ensure your appeal letter doesn’t get tossed?

Learn 7 easy ways in which you can use donor segmentation to address different groups in your fundraising appeal reply form, much like you would with your fundraising appeal letter.

Consider using donor segmentation when preparing your fundraising appeal letters and speak to the groups in your database based on giving history and experience with your organization.

These nonprofit strategic annual tips and planning calendar template will help you build a successful fundraising program focused on the 3 Cs: Calendar, Constituents & Channels.

How do you ask your new donor for a second gift without undermining the sincerity of your thank you? And, when is the best time to ask your donors to give again?

Donor thank you calls are an effective nonprofit communications strategy. Use this thank you call script as a guide and inspiration to improve donor stewardship & long-term giving.

Even in December, the giving season isn't over. Maximize your year-end giving with these 3 simple steps that will help you meet (and hopefully exceed) your annual fundraising goals.

When is the best time to mail your year-end giving letter? Before or after Thanksgiving? Here are the main points to consider when planning your end of year fundraising letter.

The digital market may seem more attractive, yet it raises less than a tenth of the money that direct mail raises. Direct mail offers a personalized approach to a targeted audience.

There is no greater way of thanking your donors than showing them the impact of their generosity by ways sending them a Donor Impact Report. Let them know why their donation matters!

In improving first-time donor renewal, every touch matters. Email offers you a quick, effective and personal touch that resembles a classic thank you letter recipients will appreciate.

A recent study found that while donors acquired online have a higher average first gift, those acquired by direct mail giving have higher retention rates & greater long-term value.

So, the thank you letter is in the mail. What next? Pick up the phone. Thank you telephone calls are proven to increase donor retention rates. Read more on the who, what, when and how.

Here are a few tried-and-true methods for offering a thank you—better still, a series of thank-yous—to those supporting your work. Starting with the highly appreciated thank you letter.

Read Five Maples' analysis of why a development director missed her declining retention rate and find out how she fixed it by following a terrific action plan to improve retention.

You need an easy way to communicate with different groups based on their interests & relationship with you. That’s one of the reasons for segmentation. Read more about this approach.

Learn from our founding father, Ben Franklin, the fundraising pioneer responsible for the first matching gift campaign. Time for you to use the magic of the matching gift too!

Organizations that benefit from the year-end surge in giving don’t wait until after Thanksgiving dinner to start the process. They start their plan in January & keep at it each month.