![\"An](\"https:\/\/uploads.donorperfect.com\/images\/sites\/2\/engagement-pyramid-1-1024x714.png\")
<\/figure>\nThe purpose of our modernized donor pyramid is to drive participation by deepening connections. So, instead of organizing your pyramid with the highest monetary contributors at the top, you\u2019ll manage it by the strength of your relationships. This is because today\u2019s donors are directing their philanthropic journeys. Their personal connection with your nonprofit is what drives them to participate on a more consistent basis.<\/p>\n
All of your donor groups play an important role in furthering your mission and sustaining your growth, even if it seems like major donors are the most immediately lucrative. Different engagements will carry different weights depending on the donor group you\u2019re trying to reach. For example, an email doesn\u2019t carry the same impact as a proposal under consideration, but they both drive fundraising results.<\/p>\n
To help you envision a clear path to your revenue goals, we created Donor Engagement Models for the Digital Age<\/strong>, a blog series where we give traditional fundraising models a modern twist \u2013 prioritizing connections over gifts:<\/p>\n Here are five ways you can deepen connections with each group in your Digital Donor Engagement Pyramid to drive participation.<\/p>\n Online forms<\/a> integrated with your fundraising system provide seamless opportunities for supporters to volunteer, crowdfund, give once, give monthly<\/a>, set up a recurring payment, increase their contribution, or even just sign up to learn more. At the moment they\u2019re curious enough to check out your donation page, you can provide inspiration that might trigger further involvement \u2013 like mission stories<\/a>, photos, and beneficiary spotlights<\/a>.<\/p>\n Returning visitors will have plenty of information to guide their next move. Plus, if they are ready to give, they can make a payment straight from their smartphones using a digital wallet<\/a>, without having to dig for their credit card information.<\/p>\n Connection win:<\/strong> Even if they\u2019re not ready to contribute or participate, you can help them explore the reasons they might want to get involved and highlight several convenient options for deepening their involvement when ready.<\/p>\n With a system like DonorPerfect, your integrated online forms<\/a> can automatically populate your donor records with all sorts of engagement information, depending on how you set them up<\/a>:<\/p>\n This is where you can learn more about your prospects and supporters to deepen your connections over shared interests. Custom reporting<\/a> and fundraising dashboards<\/a> help you keep a pulse on all of your most important metrics to determine how your team should divide and conquer. Consider assigning each staff member a group of donors to spend time getting to know, and decide which engagements will trigger what messaging.<\/p>\n Connection win: <\/strong>You learn more about them, and they learn more about you! You\u2019re putting in the thoughtful work that will build your connections from the ground up ( to the top of your donor engagement pyramid).<\/p>\n DonorPerfect\u2019s dashboard analytics<\/a> track your donor retention and acquisition rates, donor lifetime value, monthly giving conversions, and more, or campaign-based metrics that you decide for yourself!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Email marketing<\/a> helps you leverage the information you\u2019ve collected from your integrated forms<\/a> and learned from your custom reports to send targeted inspiration. Before sending emails, think of the tools you use to introduce strangers to your mission<\/a>, like storytelling<\/a>, QR codes, crowdfunding, or prospect research. How can these tools lead someone to your online form to indicate their interest in a deeper relationship?<\/p>\n Because that\u2019s when you have the opportunity to follow up with a targeted approach. Remember, you don\u2019t want to pressure them, you just want to keep their inspiration alive. Engagement isn\u2019t a one-time thing; it\u2019s ongoing, and it isn\u2019t linear. So, you have to provide multiple entry points to your nonprofit. Do this in a way that inspires your donors to be part of something big, rather than guilting them into giving a little.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a sample donor journey<\/a>:<\/p>\n This was the push your new donor<\/a> needed, as this arrangement makes perfect sense for them. They sign up for monthly giving at $2 per month. Sure, it doesn\u2019t seem like a lot, but a simple review of their donor record will show that they are quite dedicated, making them a perfect candidate for future major and planned giving conversations.<\/p>\n Connection win:<\/strong> Every touchpoint is valuable because it puts your mission on the donors\u2019 minds, so the more they participate (even passively), the closer it is to their hearts.<\/p>\n A fundraising system like DonorPerfect can automatically populate your email copy with data from your donor records<\/a>, and your subscription comes with a Constant Contact account<\/a>, so you can easily send different messages to different donor segments!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Nearly all text messages (95%) are read and responded to within 3 minutes of being received<\/a>. Simply put, text messages are the media your donors, prospects, and volunteers are most likely to check immediately, making it easier for you to capture their interest at the moment of inspiration. Take advantage of this by brainstorming some time-sensitive fundraising initiatives that could be supported by a text-to-give campaign<\/a>.<\/p>\n Here are some examples:<\/p>\n If they respond to your message or click on your link, you\u2019re primed to continue sending time-sensitive updates<\/a>. And even if they unsubscribe from your updates, you could send a survey asking how they prefer to receive them.<\/p>\n Connection win:<\/strong> You can capture their interest at the moment of inspiration, and they can take instant action on something they might have otherwise put off or forgotten about.<\/p>\n DP Text<\/a> integrates with DonorPerfect, allowing you to accept donations, recruit volunteers, send event invites, hold contests, and even host scavenger hunts \u2013 all via text message! Plus, you can create automation to provide event details on demand. Curious? Text \u201cCORAL\u201d to 844-585-0681 to see how easy it is \u2013 or check out this case study.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n It takes a lot for people to leave their houses these days. Inflation, gas prices, security concerns, and mental health issues can make it hard to show up to social events. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important that you show your appreciation for those who make it out, and give those who couldn\u2019t some opportunities to get involved, too.<\/p>\n Even if someone RSVPs, but doesn\u2019t show up, they had the intention and inspiration to support your mission in some way. That\u2019s an engagement. One entry point passed them by, but it shouldn\u2019t prevent them from receiving more. A follow-up email<\/a> to the tune of \u201cWe missed you, but thank you so much for your interest\u201d could go a long way here, especially if you provide opportunities to participate virtually<\/a>.<\/p>\n Connection win:<\/strong> Everyone wants to feel needed and appreciated, right? Well, that\u2019s exactly how you think about your donors, and they are likely to respond favorably to that!<\/p>\n\n
5 Donor Engagement Solutions to Increase Participation<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. Integrated online forms<\/h2>\n
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![\"A](\"https:\/\/uploads.donorperfect.com\/images\/sites\/2\/online-forms-image.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n2. Custom reporting and analytics<\/h2>\n
Here are some examples:<\/h3>\n
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![\"A](\"https:\/\/uploads.donorperfect.com\/images\/sites\/2\/gt-old3-analytics.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n3. Email marketing<\/h2>\n
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![\"A](\"https:\/\/uploads.donorperfect.com\/images\/sites\/2\/personalized-email-receipt.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n4. Text-to-give<\/h2>\n
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![\"A](\"https:\/\/uploads.donorperfect.com\/images\/sites\/2\/dp-text-image-1-flat-phone.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n5. Fundraising events<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/uploads.donorperfect.com\/images\/sites\/2\/event-mockup.png\")
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