The Annual Fund - Inside Best Practices for Nonprofits

with Sarah, Gary and Elyse

Our experts, Vice President of Philanthropy Sarah Gnerre, President Gary Henricksen and Chief Content Creator Elyse Pleickhardt share their insights on annual fund best practices for nonprofits. In this series of short videos and speaking engagements, they discuss everything from first-time donor retention to how to effectively communicate and engage with your donors.

UPCOMING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS


 

There are no upcoming engagements at this moment.

HACKS TO IMPROVE ANNUAL GIVING


A top goal of any nonprofit is to have a growing number of loyal donors. This is key to raising more money to better help more of your constituents.

It is essential that your organization adopt a strategy focused on repeat or recurring giving. Outstanding stewardship results in higher donor retention—and keeping donors is always less costly than acquiring new ones. By leveraging the longevity of those who have already made you one of their charities, you build a trusting, two-way relationship with your donors.

In this ongoing video series, Five Maples’ field-tested experts will share tips and hacks that will make your job easier and put you on the path to success.

 

Hack 1: The Importance of Measuring Donor Retention

Annual Fund success starts with donor retention! Watch this short video to learn whether your retention efforts are working or need work. Compare your retention to national metrics from the Fundraising Effectiveness Project and Five Maples' anonymized client data.

CONVERSATIONS WITH DEVELOPMENT MANAGERS


 

In this video series, development directors from the nonprofit organizations we support share their views on different topics related to annual fund principles and practices, strategic planning, and communications with donors.

 
 
 

How to Engage with Donors by Phone During the Pandemic

 

The Covid-19 pandemic has created new obstacles for nonprofits to engage with their donors.

We talk with Andrea Seaton and Charma Bonnano — Executive Director & Assistant Director of Development of the Grace Cottage Foundation, respectively — and Beth Howard — Annual Fund Manager at Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation — and explore some strategies to help sustain fundraising efforts by communicating with donors by phone during this crisis.

 

Part One

Andrea Seaton, Executive Director of the Grace Cottage Foundation, relates how donors are open to phone calls and ready to talk about Planned Giving.

Part Two

Charma Bonnano, Grace Cottage’s Assistant Director of Development, Marketing and Community Relations discusses donor receptivity to phone calls and how to take the next step in stewarding first time donors.


Part Three

Beth Howard, Annual Fund Manager at Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation, shares how she and her team brought donors closer during the pandemic.

Part Four

Beth Howard, Annual Fund Manager at Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation, talks about how she and her team pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic to build even stronger relationships with the hospital's donors through phone calls.

PAST SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS


 

Let’s talk about how we can help your Nonprofit communications effort

Contact Elyse Pleickhardt, Director of Fundraising Communications, at 1-802-387-3081 or elysep@fivemaples.com

Or schedule a consultation and we will call you.