1. YOU’VE GOT THE GIFT –NOW WHAT?
Faith Maddy, Vice President Development and Campaigns
Forest Park Forever
AFP Conference – August 30, 2017

2. Overview What is Donor Relations and why is it important
Four elements of donor relations
Ideas and Examples
Q & A

3. What is donor relations?
Donor relations is the comprehensive effort of any nonprofit that seeks philanthropic support to ensure that donors experience high-quality interactions with the organization that foster long-term engagement and investment.
Source – Association of Donor Relations Professionals

4. Why is it important?
Good donor relations allows for power to be shared equally
Good donor relations preserves the opportunity for future support
Retention is costly
And it’s the right thing to do

5. Donor Relations Cycle
Donor makes a contribution
Acknowledge
Appreciate
Account
Ask Again

6. 4 Elements of donor relations
Gift Acceptance and Management
Acknowledgement
Donor Recognition
Reporting/Stewardship

7. Donor Relations and Stewardship
Donor relations include all of your organization’s communications and relationship-building with donors, while stewardship’s primary focus is honoring a donor’s gift intentions
Donors are not stewarded, gifts are stewarded
Donor relations is proactive, stewardship is reactive
Donor relations is the action of engaging, cultivating, and informing donors
Stewardship is just one piece of donor relations

8. Gift Acceptance and Management
Policies and procedures
Process for review of gifts – can we do what the donor wants us to do?
Structure for giving opportunities
Process for tracking gifts as they are expended

9. A donor REQUIRES stewardship but DESIRES donor relations

10. Acknowledgement One-on-one communication with donor
Accurate, timely, and meaningful expressions of gratitude
Includes receipting and personalized, written correspondence including letters and s
Phone calls
Personal visits

12. Donor Recognition Giving societies Honor Rolls
Donor walls, named space signage
Internal and external publicity
Donor recognition events
Engagement opportunities

13. Reporting/Stewardship
Reporting to donors on the impact of their gifts
Qualitative – storytelling
Quantitative – fiduciary responsibility met

15. Rethinking Donor Relations
Put on your donor glasses
Get creative – what is unique to your organization?
Look not just at donor dollars but donor behavior
Ask for advice from those who know – board members, volunteers, long-time staff, etc.

16. Questions?