Cutting Through the Noise

By Bruce Berglund

So it’s halfway through the last quarter of 2011 — can you believe it?  If you are like me, life seems to be quite full.  My e-mail seems to fill more quickly than my ability to sift through the urgent and important messages.  Soccer games and school events are in full swing.  My mailbox, phone and now my e-mail are all being targeted by solicitations from many worthy not-for-profits and charities.

How does your not-for-profit lift its voice above the “noise” of year-end and get noticed?  As several of you have heard me say: the best predictor of future giving is current giving AND the best path to renewed and upgraded gifts is a powerful stewardship program.

Why not set a goal of being the best organization at saying thank you vs. please this holiday season?

How are you thanking your current year donors?  I hope it goes beyond the standard IRS letter and perhaps a mid-year postcard. How are you cutting through the holiday noise with your donors?

Ideas to Cut Through the Noise

• Stories of impact, especially impact on families as everyone is more focused on family this time of year
• Anything handwritten
• Stories of hope, of needs met, of opportunities to do even more good work
• Phone calls not to solicit but to say thanks and to wish a donor a bright holiday
• Christmas caroling at the homes/offices of major supporters
• Anything home-made
• Use a smart phone or flip cam to make simple thank you videos.  Post them on YouTube and/or your website.   Then include links to these videos in your eblasts.

Our family made a contribution to an agency we believe in — an agency we believe is making a HUGE difference in their community.  I have a relationship with the agency’s CEO and believe in him and his staff team.  After making our gift, I got an e-mail from the CEO and he asked for my spouse’s cell phone number.  The next day he called my spouse and especially thanked her for our family contribution.  He then thanked her for keeping the Berglund family intact while I am away working with agencies like his.  He cut through the noise!  He got noticed!

How about you?  What are you doing these last busy weeks of the year to be heard by donors and advocates in your community? We’ll be sharing several blogs about stewardship over the next few weeks as we hope to help you cut through the noise of this busy time in your own work.  And, we’d love to share your great ideas!  Send an email to info@donorbydesign.com with a photo or note about what you’re doing to stand out with donors.  We’ll share these ideas via Facebook and this website.

Last 5 posts by Bruce Berglund

• Cut Through the Noise – Part 2 - April 12th, 2012
• Grassroots 2.0 - March 21st, 2012
• Law of Lateral Recruitment - March 2nd, 2012
• Making Yourself Heard - February 10th, 2012
• What Fills Your Bucket? - February 2nd, 2012

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