And 5 questions to help you get closer to your supporters
By Kirsten Bullock
A couple of years ago I was sitting in a committee meeting and we were discussing feedback we wanted from participants. We were coming up with all sorts of options using technology (and avoiding personal contact). But then I asked the question: how many people were we looking at? Was it 5,000? 500? 100? No – it was about 15.
With 5 people on the committee, and 3 phone calls each, we could get some great personal feedback with just a handful of calls. Plus it would help build a closer connection with our supporters.
While technology can support us in our fundraising and volunteer-building efforts, sometimes it can also be a crutch that enables us to put an artificial barrier between us and our supporters (be it parents, community members or other volunteers).
It is so easy to just send off an email – but a conversation with some open-ended questions can glean a lot of information. But, what do you ask? In case you need some thoughts, here are a few to help you get started:
- How did you learn about our group?
- What made you want to get involved?
- What is your favorite thing about our group?
- What is your least favorite thing?
- What is it that you would most like to see us do in the next twelve months? (Don’t ask this unless you plan on doing something with the information you gather.)
And please, if you’re planning on asking for a large gift, whatever you do, ask in person, not by phone.
I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how welcomed your call will be!
Those are my thoughts – what are yours?
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Kirsten Bullock is a consultant, trainer and coach who works with leaders of non-profit organizations and ministries to bring professionalism, excellence and effectiveness to their board and fundraising efforts. She earned her designation as a Certified Fund Raising Executive in 2002. Kirsten is currently serving as president elect of the Association for Fundraising Professionals Greater Louisville Chapter. She is an AFP Master Trainer, compiles Kirsten’s Fundraising Headlines Blog, authors the Growing Your Donors blog and is a contributing blogger for SOFII (The Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration). Follower her on Twitter.