Episode 15 - Appeal Letters and Emails? Increase Response Rates 5x! Seriously!

The Fundraising Coach -- Fundraising Tips, Tools, and Tactics for Nonprofits -- by Tom Iselin

Do you send out appeal letters or emails for your year-end campaign? Just sending an email or an appeal letter, with no announcement or personalization, will yield a response rate of 1-3% . . . maybe 5% if you’re lucky.

However, if you send make an announcement notification BEFORE you send your appeals, either by phone or email, to donors who have a connection to your nonprofit, more than 50% will make a gift. Done well, this figure can skyrocket to 70%. Seriously.

Tune in and listen to more details and tactics now.

Why Does Notification Work?

When you call first, you’re priming donors with a “personal” announcement that they will be receiving something from YOU. Making it personal means the donor will feel more obligated to respond. Why? People don’t like to blow off other people when asked a favor.