Thoughts from the Group

To centralize or not to centralize—that is the wrong  question. The real question is: how do we ensure that every donor feels consistently valued, regardless of where or how they give? For many organizations, acknowledgments live in a messy, decentralized system. Each unit, department, or program handles things differently, which often leads to inconsistent timing, varied messaging, and worst of all, confused donors. On the flip side, fully centralizing acknowledgments risks

In large, matrixed nonprofit organizations, donor experiences can vary greatly from unit to unit. Without shared standards, one donor may...

One thing  more evident now than ever before is that our donors want to feel appreciated. While a thank-you letter or email are, and...

Let’s cut right to the chase. If you’re still thanking donors and asking them for another gift in the same breath, you are not stewarding...

If you've been following DRG for any length of time, you've likely heard us share facts, percentages, and trends based on our own...

As a consultant, one of my favorite client projects is a donor relations program assessment . There’s real power in requesting an...

We encounter many firsts throughout our lives, and these experiences often shape our future decisions. For example, when you buy your...

First-time donors give for many reasons, and donor retention looks different for each donor behavior type. First-time gifts can come from...

Do you ever sit down to write a donor thank you message and poof—all the good ideas you had are gone and you're left frozen, staring at a...

Our Donor Relations Group (DRG) team regularly speaks and writes about the importance of acknowledgments and the importance of an...

Tax receipts and acknowledgments are two of the most fundamental and crucial components of your donor relations efforts, and it’s...

‘Tis the season for year-end appeals…and year end fa-la-la-la-cknowledgments! As we gear up for these incredibly important giving...

A donor just made a gift to support your organization, so what comes next? You may be asking yourself, “Now what happens? Should I ask...

One of our favorite aspects of the recently redesigned DRG website is the Free Resources section, featuring a revamped and expanded...

By Colton Withers Do you ever look at the all-encompassing work of your donor relations program and think, where should I spend my time?...

Thank you – two simple words to express gratitude or acknowledge a gift or action. But these two words can strike fear in even the most...

Acknowledgments are one of the fundamentals of Donor Relations. Doing them—and doing them well—are crucial to your organization's...

Guest post by Jess Campbell Us nonprofits? We’ve got a major problem. I’m talking HUGE. Want to know what it is? While we are coming off...

By Jan McGuire The end of the year is here! Is your acknowledgment process ready to meet the demands of this time of year? Take a moment...

There are so many ways to say thank you, but sometimes it seems like the most difficult task. Why is that? We know it's important – many...