[NonProfit Pro] How to develop your year-end ask strategy
[NonProfit Pro] How to develop your year-end ask strategy
NonProfit Pro; by Jeff Schreifels; 10/8/24
There’s no doubt about it — as a fundraiser, you are now in the busiest, most productive time of your year. Hopefully you’ve developed a strategic plan for your whole year and know how to approach the next couple of months to reach your organization’s financial goals.Still, even with a strong plan, developing the right year-end ask amounts can be tricky. I can’t tell you the hundreds of times I have talked to major gift officers who don’t know the details of their caseload or their donors’ interests and situations. ... And what’s worse is once that pressure to get the money starts coming down, you may find yourself asking for gifts that harm the long-term relationship with your donor. The goal is to come to your donor from an authentic place of partnership. ... These questions will form the foundation for your ask strategy. ...
- Focus on Your Top Donors Who Haven’t Renewed Their Year-End Gifts ...
- Identify the Variance Between Actual Giving and Your Goal for Each Donor ...
- Discover Any Donors Whose Giving Seems Too Low ...
- Locate Any Lapsed Donors ...
- Determine Which Mid-Level Donors Haven’t Given a Year-End Gift ...
- Remind Donors Who Give Via Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) or Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)