Episode #217
Does researching donors take up too much of your time?
When you think about researching donors, do all sorts of questions flood your brain? Questions like:
“Which donors should I research?”
“What information do I need to know about the donors?”
“How do I find the information about the donors?”
“What do I do with the information once I get it?”
In today’s video, Christie Cotterill from the Seattle Aquarium will walk you through her approach to researching donors. She’ll answer all the questions above and more.
This video is a little longer than most of the Movie Monday episodes so you may want to fill up your coffee cup or pop a little popcorn before watching it. 🙂
If you have any stories or advice on researching donors, please share them in a comment box under the video. Your nonprofit friends will appreciate it.
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If you have any stories or advice on researching donors, please share them. Your nonprofit friends will appreciate it. 🙂
Excellent advice. Really makes a daunting ‘goal’ for a D.D. or E.D. much more manageable. This is something a good office volunteer could help you with too.
When researching prospective donors be mindful of the pitfall of paralysis due to analysis. Don’t get in the mindset that unless you have all the criteria on your checklist that you can’t meet with the person. The absolute best donor research is a face to face meeting with them and to be a listening ear to what is important to them. Your research should take you far enough to determine whether they would be interested in your organization and where you might have common ground.
Christi,
You stated that knowing someone at a NP that knows the individual you are trying to learn more about is one way to help with your donor research.
I’m assuming the donor is contributing to that NP organization that is why your friend at the NP organization knows them – Yes?
On my end wouldn’t it be awkward to ask about the donor especially if that friend is stewarding that person for their own organization. Please clarify.
I love these Monday movies. They motivate me for the week.
Thanks
Once again a wonderful presentation. Every time I sit down with one of these videos I feel like another weight has lifted from my shoulders. I don’t have to reinvent the wheel and the short cuts provided allow me to actually get more work done.
Christie, thank you for taking the time to do this video.
Leigh
Great information and prioritizing what you need to know… MGOs don’t have to know everything but it is great to have those 4 key points you mention. Thanks!
As Rob mentioned, you also need to meet with your donors and track what they love about YOUR organization. Using the Aquarium as an example: does a donor give to you because they love kids’ access to STEM? Or because they want to support conservation? Knowing this allows for personalized communication, and it allows you to call them with specific updates that they’ll be excited to hear. Track what your donors say to you about your organization, too!