Thoughts from the Group

Let’s get one thing straight right out of the gate: your donors know when something’s wrong. They’re smart. They’re paying attention. And while they may not know every nuance of your fiscal year forecast or the backstory on your latest leadership shakeup, they know when things feel off. And do you know what breaks trust faster than bad news? Pretending there is  no bad news. We’ve been trained—whether by cautious boards, cautious lawyers, or cautious culture—to avoid sharing

I've shared this before, but because the philosophy resonates in so many areas of life I want to share again—I keep a paperweight on my desk that reads, "If you can laugh at it, you can live with it."   And I firmly believe that laughter is, in many situations, the best medicine. It softens the blow of bad news, eases tension, and gives us a lift to keep going. And let's be honest—some days, all you can  do is laugh, especially with some of the things that come our way at wor

Imagine that you’ve just decided to take a road trip, so you plug your destination into Waze. It gives you two route options: Route A 🛣️ : Green lights and clear roads. Arrival Time: 2-3 Minutes Route B 🚧 : Riddled with potholes, traffic jams, detours, and construction zones. Arrival Time: 2-3(ish) Business Days Which route would you choose? Obviously, Route A—right? This is the exact scenario we present to donors when we ask them to give or renew their support.  The destin

Think back to the last time someone thanked you in a way that made you smile, maybe it was a heartfelt note, an unexpected gesture, or...

When we take a closer look at thriving advancement shops, one thing stands out: they all view donor relations as a long-term,...

If you asked me why I love Donor Relations work, I could give you so many reasons. I love finding ways to express gratitude. I love...

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

It’s been nearly two decades, but I remember it like it was yesterday. Just out of college, I was a brand-new teacher with Teach For...

Can I just say what everyone is thinking right now? These are weird times.  Federal budget cuts mean grants are being withheld from our...

Donors want to feel seen and known. Too often, we focus our donor communications on what we want them to do—give again, upgrade, attend....

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...

Let’s talk about the unspoken elephant in the room… or rather, in the ledger. Unspent donor funds. It’s the kind of phrase that makes...

In today's turbulent higher education landscape and competitive philanthropic environment, donor retention remains the cornerstone of...

Imagine this: a donor calls you, confused by a recent pledge reminder. As they describe what’s in front of them, you feel a pit in your...

In donor relations, we often talk about gratitude, stewardship, and impact, but the most transformative moments happen when we translate...

In an era of data-driven decision-making and digital donor engagement, storytelling continues to be one of the most powerful yet...

Donor retention isn’t rocket science—but it is  science. Behavioral  science, that is. And there is already a treasure trove of...

I love donor events—like capital L.O.V.E.—I really, really love donor events. I love how a good event can create a strong emotional...

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