Giving Days/ Blitz campaigns are an
established and successful fundraising trend. I wrote about them back in 2012 and they are
still going strong. As more and more institutions take on the concerted
fundraising efforts, we must also be aware that while planning them, we need to
plan the donor relations right along side the effort. Many of you know I am a
proud University of South Carolina alumna and donor, but this week I'm giving
open kudos to my rivals over at the University of Tennessee. And believe me
when I say this is difficult, I don't like orange all that much (ahem ahem).
But wow, have they done the Big Orange Give, from start to finish the RIGHT
way.
First, I gave online to them and it was an
easy form, didn't cause me stress and made gift giving easy. Next I received a
really nice email to confirm my gift, the only downside was that I then
received a paper receipt- Bummer- and they need to invest in their receipts or
just go all digital, remember if I give online, send me an email receipt or a
printable PDF as an attachment...
I also a few days later received this very
nice postcard from a student at UT.
But then I was wowed. I received a phone
call from a UT student the next week!! They just wanted to check in on me,
thank me for my first gift and let me know their fundraising total from the day
and how they couldn't have done it without me.
Then, what do you know, they sent me an
email with a video- NICELY DONE!
So they hit every single channel of
communication with a different message and special touch!
Kudos to you vols for your efforts, I am
duly impressed. And in comparison to another challenge giving day I gave to two
days later where I haven't heard a peep and haven't even received a gift
receipt, you're doing an amazing job!
I now want to give again and feel valued
for my first gift. It doesn't mean I'll be playing rocky top any time soon, but
amazing execution.
What do y'all think? How are you planning
to execute donor relations for your giving days/blitz campaigns?
Cheers,
Lynne
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