Know your constituents…
I recently had a nice conversation with the executive director of an environmental nonprofit about a possible Salesforce.com database implementation. She told me a lot about her organization, and their needs, and at the end she thanked me for the conversation.
But she never thanked me for making a donation to her organization only 2 months ago, because she didn’t know I was one of her constituents.
A key to building up your supporter base is making current constituents feel connected. This means doing your homework when you’re talking to folks. Your database can be an important resource for you. Do quick research on people you’re interacting with–Have they given before? Do you know people who know them? What can you glean that will make your interaction more personal?
I would have had a much warmer and fuzzier feeling if she had started out with, “Before we get started I want to thank you for supporting the work we do with your donation in March–what drew you to our organization?”
That’s supporter-centric behavior that will grow your base, and will add resources to your mission work. A good database can help that, but it really comes down to just doing your homework.
