How to Get Our Lapsed Donors Back

Key Takeaways:

• Why Donors Lapse:

  • Replaced by new causes or organizations.

  • Displeased with previous experiences.

  • Relocation, forgetfulness, or awaiting re-engagement.

  • Lack of consistent communication from nonprofits.

• Strategies to Reconnect:

  • Donor Identification: Understand who lapsed donors are and their reasons for disengagement.

  • Build a Strategy: Develop targeted outreach plans including the "7 Touches" stewardship model.

  • Implement and Evaluate: Use structured timelines and goals to guide re-engagement efforts.

  • Learn from Feedback: Collect insights from unhappy donors to refine future approaches.

• Best Practices:

  • Regular and personalized communication with former donors.

  • Transparency in goals and impact to rebuild trust.

  • Encourage dialogue with lapsed donors to address concerns directly.

• Inspiration:

  • A quote from Bill Gates emphasizes the value of learning from the most unhappy customers to improve donor relationships.