As a nonprofit leader, you strive to connect with donors in the hopes they will become a lifetime donor. This can be a reality for your organization with the proper cultivation and platform. Donors need to be able to visit your website, quickly put in a donation amount, and set a recurring schedule. It is proven that donors give more when they have the ability to spread their donation out over time. So how do you turn your donors into lifetime donors? Here are a few tips.
Easy Navigation
Add a donate button on every page of your website. This may seem redundant, but you want to make the donation process as easy as possible. You never know what page on your website may strike a chord with a donor and inspire them to donate. Make all buttons a bold color so they are easy to spot and are the first thing a visitor notices.
These buttons should take your donors directly to a page to collect their credit card information. Stick to the bare bones on this form and collect only the information absolutely necessary to process a donation. Donors want as few clicks as possible! Everything in today’s society is becoming based on instant gratification. Writing checks is becoming increasingly more rare. Donors are used to the online checkout process from their experiences making purchases online. Make them comfortable by using this same process for your donation form.
Just Ask!
Use suggested donation amounts. Once a one-time donation is made, your organization’s goal should be to convert them into a monthly donor. They already share with you a passion for your cause as indicated by their donation. Ask for smaller monthly donations to help push them towards recurring donations.
Maintain Relationships
Tell donors what their monthly payment or one-time gift provides for your organization. On your donation form, next to each dollar amount let donors know exactly where their money is going. Compassion International is great example of this. Donors are matched with a child and told that their monthly donation goes towards food, school supplies, and living expenses. It is important to keep you monthly donors updated. Let them know how their donation is making a difference. Compassion International sends donors a photo of the child they are sponsoring with updates. They continue to remind donors of the good they’re doing! This keeps your cause on your donors’ minds and reminds them they are an important part of carrying out your organization’s mission.
Say Thank You!
Most nonprofits are not able to thank donors as soon as donations are made as it is extremely time consuming. It is worth investing in a database to help with this! Have a personalized email sent out as soon as a donation is received that can also serve as a tax receipt. Good customer care is what keeps donors loyal and trusting. Be sure to give a call to action in your thank you email. Tell one-time donors that they have the option to give monthly or sign up for your next 5k!
Interested in implementing these tips today? Call and talk to a representative at 615.988.4600 or email us with any questions at info@donorlynk.com!