I suggest you use this list to allow your donor data to tell you next steps of who to contact and where to focus your time.

DATA CHECKLIST

    ___Who has been giving? For how long?

    ___Know your LYBUNT donors (Last Year But Unfortunately Not This
          Year) & SYBUNTs (Some Years But Unfortunately Not This Year).

    ___What do we define as a major gift?

    ___What’s our retention rate?

    ___What’s our acquisition rate?

    ___Why did they start giving?

    ___With which current donors should you focus your time? 

    ___How many personal (phone or in-person meeting) contacts do you
          have annually?

    ___Who are you meeting with? Calling?

    ___Are you tracking the board activity of calls & meetings with donors
          or prospects? 

During this time of year when donors are making thoughtful choices about where to give, it is important to give them a reason to stay connected to you. Keep your messages short, timely, and make sure your communication lets your donors why YOUR organization should remain a priority in their giving.

Watch for those who have fallen off in their giving and reach out to them with a special message inviting them to return. And most of all, make sure your contacts with donors are personal: phone or in person. Personal contacts make a difference!