Donor management is crucial for organizations relying on donations, and often involves software and consultants to maximize contributions. Personal contact and incentives are also used to encourage continued support. Donor management software includes databases and contact management capabilities, and may also include online fundraising tools.
Many organizations rely on donations from individuals and corporations to cover operating expenses, making the organization-donor relationship a significant priority. These groups often rely on donor management systems to stay in touch with donors and maximize donations. Donor management typically includes the entire process of identifying a potential donor, persuading the potential client to make a donation, and then encouraging the donor to continue their financial support. Groups that receive a significant amount of income through donations often use the services of consultants or fundraising specialists, as well as donor management software packages, to increase or maintain contribution levels. Since the advent of the Internet, these software packages have become increasingly sophisticated, offering a variety of features that, combined with the expertise of a fundraising specialist, can greatly increase the amount of money donated to a cause or organization. .
Organizational fundraising can be an overwhelming task, as it often involves convincing an individual or company representative to give money to a group without the expectation of repayment. While there is a huge human factor in nurturing donors, as personal contact with key donors is a crucial element of successful fundraising campaigns, the process also requires structure. Good donor management incorporates a system whereby contact with donors is constantly monitored and evaluated to allow development of the best approach to dealing with individual donors and encouraging continued contributions. These approaches may include offering incentives for giving, such as invitations to events, prizes embellished with the organization’s logo, and other perks and privileges for generous contributions. In addition, donor management often involves publicly recognizing donors by naming them in group publications or including their name on a physical donor wall at the organization’s headquarters.
Due to the complexity of managing hundreds or even thousands of relationships with financial contributors, many organizations invest in donor management software. These software packages vary in features, but generally integrate databases that include donor information and a contact history with the ability to track a donor’s donation pattern. Employees and consultants responsible for donor management may refer to this information when making decisions about targeted campaigns or when communicating directly with individual donors. Other features commonly included in this type of software include contact management capabilities that allow groups to conduct email or direct mail campaigns or identify good times to call a donor over the phone. Some packages include online fundraising tools, such as a backend system that can be connected to the organization’s website to encourage online donations.
Asset Smart.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
