This year\u2019s DonorPerfect Conference<\/a> theme was connection, and let me tell you\u2014I can\u2019t think of a more important topic for this moment. Think about it: with all the ways we see and hear and speak to one another online, on our phones, and over social media, it feels like we\u2019re more connected than ever before.<\/p>\n But do your donors feel connected? Do you<\/em> really feel connected? If we\u2019re living in the most connected time in history, we\u2019re also living in the most disconnected <\/em>time. With seemingly unlimited, instant access to other individuals, other organizations, and other purposes, it\u2019s easy to lose sight of ourselves and who we <\/em>are. And when we lose that authentic connection to our \u201cwhy,\u201d we find ourselves trying to fit into spaces and relationships that just aren\u2019t right for us\u2014that make us feel like we don\u2019t quite belong.<\/p>\n Remember: Alignment is your assignment.<\/em><\/p>\n In today\u2019s fast-paced nonprofit environment, it\u2019s more important than ever to reconnect with what makes you you<\/em>. Because your passion <\/strong>is your power. Your people <\/strong>are your power. Your purpose <\/strong>is your power. And when you\u2019re tapped into your power, you build real, transformational, and sustainable impact. <\/p>\n Missed this year\u2019s DonorPerfect Conference? Have no fear! You can watch Floyd\u2019s keynote talk<\/a> and the rest of our sessions for more on the power of connection in fundraising.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Follow this simple framework to spark deeper connections with your donors, inspire authentic engagement with your mission, and drive lasting change.<\/strong><\/p>\n If you want your donors to feel like they belong as a part of your mission, you have to understand what motivates the work in the first place. What\u2019s your spark? When you take the time to connect with your passion, you\u2019re empowering yourself\u2014and your team\u2014to build a fundraising strategy<\/a> that\u2019s truly aligned with your values and purpose.<\/p>\n Before everything else, you have to get in touch with your why<\/em>. What first drew you to this work, and why have you chosen to stick with it? What is your motivation and purpose? Approach your work with honesty, mindfulness, and intentionality. When you have a clear sense of your why, you\u2019ll be more aligned in your decisions, messaging, and reporting<\/a>. You\u2019ll also communicate more authentically with donors\u2014and connect more deeply with those who share your passion.<\/p>\n Know exactly what it is you\u2019re working toward. What do you need, and why do you need it? How much\u2014and who<\/em>\u2014do you need to make it a reality? A clear, detailed budget is your best friend; it will help you stay focused on the big picture as you determine smaller daily goals and priorities. <\/p>\n Pro tip:<\/strong> No matter where you are in your nonprofit organization\u2019s journey\u2014just starting out, or a legacy pillar of the community\u2014it\u2019s always a good time to check in with your growth goals and connect with your purpose. <\/p>\n Download your free Nonprofit Growth Kit<\/strong><\/a> and get expert tips and prompts to help you align your team, scale your operations, and build for maximum impact.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In fundraising, there\u2019s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. If you really want to connect with your people, you have to open up your nonprofit CRM<\/a> and do a deep dive into the data. Decide which groups you want to engage and why, and be sure to personalize your messaging and call-to-action for each segment. Segment your donors<\/a> using these criteria:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re targeting multiple segments to reach a campaign goal, your approach to each group\u2014how many donors you ask, how much you ask for, and your method of outreach\u2014should be strategically customized for these categories.<\/p>\n You already have a community of passionate supporters. Use them to your advantage! These are your most vocal advocates and champions, engaged volunteers<\/a>, social influencers, and committed thought leaders. You can teach a lot of things, but you can\u2019t teach passion\u2014so when individuals are showing you that they already care about your cause, believe <\/em>them. Empower them. Call them in.<\/p>\n Your volunteers are some of your nonprofit\u2019s most dedicated supporters. Their hard work streamlines operations so you have more time for the donor conversations that matter\u2014and your volunteer management system should, too.<\/p>\n With DonorPerfect Online Forms and Easy Reports, you can manage volunteer sign-ups, track hours and impact, and automate communications all in one place. Save valuable time on data entry and visualize volunteer and donor data in tandem. Manage your volunteers with DonorPerfect >><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Now, the most important part: get your story out into the world! Your story is your superpower, how you tell it matters. As a best practice, focus on an individual narrative and one key statistic that illustrates the impact of your work. Think of storytelling<\/a> as a two-way conversation between you and the donor:<\/p>\n When you tell your story, you aren\u2019t just broadcasting information about your nonprofit\u2019s work and mission. You\u2019re starting a dialogue with your donor that resonates with their<\/em> story and passion, and offering an invitation for them to respond.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Once you\u2019ve aligned your strategy with your passion and made a bid for support, you need to sustain connection with your people. Effective fundraising isn\u2019t a one-and-done ask; it\u2019s a meaningful, long-term relationship based on shared values and vision. You need to engage your donors<\/a> in ways that are authentic and geared toward action.<\/p>\n What is your full story? Be open and honest with your donors: give them the highs and lows, the challenges and triumphs. When you go deeper with your donors, you build trust, genuine connection, and personal investment in your cause.<\/p>\n What do you want each person to do? How will they help you? Give clear and specific instructions for how your donors can engage and what their impact will be. These instructions should go beyond a simple \u201cDonate\u201d button. Call on your people to volunteer, to subscribe to your newsletter, to attend an event, to share a post on social media<\/a>. When your donors are aware of all the ways they can show up for your organization\u2014and what those kinds of support will help you achieve\u2014the more connected (and committed) they will feel to your mission.<\/p>\n Pro tip:<\/strong> As a good rule of thumb, stick to one specific direction<\/strong> per campaign. Your communications should clarify the donor\u2019s role and impact; too many instructions can lead to donor confusion or burnout.<\/p>\n Your fundraising communication<\/a> needs to be consistent, even if not quite every day. Determine a regular cadence for outreach, and stick to it. And don\u2019t limit communication to just asks; your donors don\u2019t want to be solicited every time they hear from you. They want progress updates on the work you\u2019re doing and thank-yous<\/a> for the support they<\/em> provide.<\/p>\n With the right email and digital marketing solution, communicating with your donors is a breeze. Every DonorPerfect system is fully integrated with Constant Contact<\/a>, meaning you can customize branded email templates, track opens and clicks, and segment donor lists with ease\u2014all synced directly with your nonprofit CRM. ![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/uploads.donorperfect.com\/images\/sites\/2\/floyd-headshot.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nConnect with your passion<\/h2>\n
If you want to connect your community with your passion, follow the five S\u2019s:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
S<\/strong>et an intention<\/h4>\n
S<\/strong>et a goal<\/h4>\n
![\"mockup](\"https:\/\/uploads.donorperfect.com\/images\/sites\/2\/small-orgs-mockup.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nS<\/strong>egment<\/h4>\n
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Mobilize s<\/strong>upporters<\/h4>\n
![\"volunteer](\"https:\/\/uploads.donorperfect.com\/images\/sites\/2\/volunteer-report-large.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nS<\/strong>hare your story<\/h4>\n
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Connect with your people<\/h2>\n
Follow my three D\u2019s of connection:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Go d<\/strong>eeper<\/h4>\n
Give d<\/strong>irections<\/h4>\n
Communicate \u201cd<\/strong>aily\u201d<\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"Constant](\"https:\/\/uploads.donorperfect.com\/images\/sites\/2\/constant-contact-local-artists.jpg\")
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