Talk to Donors about your other Donors

Your donors need to know

“Beyond who you are and what you are raising money for, major donors need to have several other questions answered and concerns addressed by you in your communications with them. For instance, donors want to know about other financial supporters of the ministry. What about your current donor constituency? How many donors do you currently have? What levels of support are they giving? Who serves on your board of directors? Do your board members give? If not, why not? What percentage of your budget is represented by board support? (A red flag goes up for a new major donor if a ministry has a great mission statement on paper but its own board members don’t take an active role as donors.) How do you know whether an individual donor is asking this question? Answer it in advance. Assume the information is desired, and offer it. You’ll sense the donor latching on to the concepts of greatest importance to him.”

* Like what you just read and want to learn more? Check out, Donors Are People Too: Managing Relationships With Your Ministry's Major Contributors.