Just Take 5 This Year

In spite of living in a world whose mantra is “Go big or go home”, little changes can have a great impact. It is amazing how several small percentages can add up to a great deal. Especially when you are discussing dollars and cents. Think about how a couple hundred points swing on the stock market can make or break someone’s day, and those points often only represent less than 5% of the DJIA.

Imagine what 5% could do for your development plan. We are only talking about 5%. It does not seem like a lot, but let’s look at 5% in three areas.

Retention

Imagine having 5% of your donors retained. If you had 500 donors last year, with an average gift of $375, then keeping 5% more could mean nearly $10,000. Are you willing to communicate a little more for 5% ($10,000).

Ideas to communicate more

• Use the email tool in your Donor Management System
• Subscribe to an email campaign tool like MailChimp
• Plan multiple mailings and get a quote for the total of your mailings, you may save 5% per mailing

Organic Growth

Look at your top 50 donors, and focus on getting them to increase their giving by 5%. In most organizations, your top donors represent a large percentage of your donations. Take some time to get to know these donors and share your needs. Then engage them to increase their giving by just 5%. A little to them will mean a lot to you. The better you can share the impact of a small increase in their giving, the better your success should be.

• Create a list of your TOP 50 donors and focus on them each month throughout the year
• Spend one day a week where you are completely out of the office, you never even come in and spend the day getting to “Know your donors”
• Practice 2-2-2 weekly: Set 2 appointments for the future; have 2 meetings with donors; extend 2 invitations to events

Personal Development

More than just funding for your organization, this 5% will return to you in multiple ways. So if you are supposed to work 40 hours/ week (please stop laughing) then that is 2 hours a week dedicated to you and your growth. Twenty minutes a day or 45 minutes every other day, whatever it is, just make it happen. Make it fun also, like meeting a colleague to brainstorm through a problem.

The research has been done that those fundraisers who invest in training improve their fundraising ability. It is suggested that you improve it by more than $30,000. So attend a webinar, read a blog, attend an AFP meeting. Make time for your personal success. As a result, you most likely will gain time for yourself as well as funding for your organization.

• Once a month, schedule lunch or coffee with a colleague (maybe even one you have not met yet)
• Subscribe to newsletters like the ones from the Chronicle of Philanthropy
• Participate in a webinar.  Maybe one through your Donor Management System
• Join a civic or professional group like Rotary or AFP

These three 5% hacks could mean $50,000 or more for your organization. It won’t happen in a week or a month, but over a year. Its manageable, tolerable, realistic and it will make a difference. Even with a million dollar budget, $50,000 makes a difference. It could be a program or some help for your development team.

Wishing you a wonderful new year.  If PB&J marComm can be of assistance as you work on you development plan or fundraising infrastructure, please contact us.