π From the Weekly Spark, my weekly email with one useful idea for nonprofit fundraisers. Subscribe here.
On Halloween, millions of people will hand candy to total strangers, just for showing up. π
Let’s do that for your donors! Give them a little treat for being there.
Not a newsletter or a receipt. Not a “quick update” that hides a gentle ask. Just a phone call that says thank you and then, shockingly, ends.
Most of those calls will go to voicemail, and that’s good. Voicemail is low-pressure for you (and no-pressure for them).
π Here’s one you can steal:
“Hi (name), this is (your name) from (your organization). I’m not calling to ask you for a thing! I just wanted to say thank you. Because of you, (one specific outcome from this fall). That’s it! No need to call back. Have a great week.”
That’s about 20 seconds.
Being specific about the outcome is what makes it feel real, so skip the usual “your support makes a difference” and say, “Ten families had a hot meal.” And telling them not to call you back means they can enjoy the message without adding to their to-do list.
Say it out loud once before dialing. You don’t want to sound like you’re calling about their car’s extended warranty.
How to start? Pick ten donors who haven’t heard from you lately. Great thing to do while you’re binging on Halloween candy! (Or maybe that’s just me… #ReesesForTheWin)
Happy Halloween! π¬π»
