Calling supporters to thank them for donating… this is one of those things that we know we should do, but often don’t. Despite study after study proving it’s well worth your time. Calling supporters to thank them for donating… this is one of those things that we know we should do, but often don’t. Despite study after study proving it’s well worth your time.
In fact, if you feel you don’t have time for “thank you” calls, I’d suggest taking a hard look at what you are doing instead. Chances are there’s something less important than you can stop doing to make time for this proven strategy.
Here’s some of the data, in case you need convincing…
- Donors who were thanked were 51% more likely, on average, to pledge again the following year.
- Donors called by a board member within 24 hours of their gift being received gave up to 39% more the next time they are solicited.
- Donors who only received a voicemail were more likely to give the following year than those who received no call.
- Even calls made months after gift receipt made a difference.
Consider these results alongside abysmal donor retention rates across the nonprofit sector and you should be left with only one conclusion… There’s no excuse not to make “thank you” calls an integral part of your fundraising program.
Not much else is going to set you up for a successful year-end as effectively as this!
For more on what these calls should look like, check out Donor “Thank You” Calls: Everything you need to know.
