Please note that this presentation is
provided to you as a part of your
recent regional training. It is not to
be replicated and/or distributed to
anyone outside of your specific
affiliate. If you have questions,
please contact us at
[email protected].
10 Strategies
to Increase Donations
Strategy One:
Word of Mouth (Solicitation by Proxy)
Word of Mouth
Donation Drop-offs
Donor Experience is the Key!
Look at this…
…through the eyes of the donor
Donation Drop-offs
Donor Experience is the Key!
• Easy-to-locate drop-off area (without getting
out of car)
Donation Drop-offs
Donor Experience is the Key!
• Easy-to-locate drop-off area (without getting
out of car)
• Process is quick and convenient
Ding Ding!
Picture of awesome donatoin
drive thru
Donation Drop-offs
Donor Experience is the Key!
• Easy-to-locate drop-off area (without getting
out of car)
• Process is quick and convenient
• THE DONOR LEAVES HAPPY!
Stop. Wait. Roll.
Alternative Resources
The Perils of an Unhappy Donor
Donation Scheduling
• Use scheduling software (Vonigo)
• Answer the Phone
– Remember to ask: “Can you drop it off or would you need it
picked up?
– Set specific standards for what you will and won’t pick up, and
create canned language for declining a pickup
– Location of item(s)
– “Mission Moment”
• Offer an Online Option
Donation Scheduling
• Use scheduling software (Vonigo)
• Answer the Phone
– Remember to ask: “Can you drop it off or would you need it
picked up?
– Set specific standards for what you will and won’t pick up, and
create canned language for declining a pickup
– Location of item(s)
– “Mission Moment”
• Offer an Online Option
• Be prepared to Outsource
Remember: Your job is to solve the
problem!
Scheduling Process
• Keep data
• Schedule by “zones”
• Confirm pickups the night before AND when in
route
• Fill cancellations with future pickups
BEWARE…
…OF SUCCESS!
Strategy Two: “Stumble Upon”
Stumble Upon
• Search Engine Optimized (for donor-facing
search terms)
• All web pages function from the perspective of
an uninformed user
Strategy Three: Mass Market
Mass-Market
• Identify your donor
– Female
– Middle-high income
– Homeowner
• Identify your message
–
–
–
–
Convenient drop-off location
Free pick-up
Donation hotline
*all donations are tax deductible and benefit our
mission
Mass-Market
Mass Market
•
•
•
•
Get RFPs from three vendors
Communicate your donor and your message
Review proposals and select
Measure results based on volume and zip code
Consider working with neighboring affiliates!
Strategy Four: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
•
•
•
•
•
•
Realtors Association
Home Builders Association
Remodelers Association
Local “green” groups
Church services
What else?
Public Speaking
Public Speaking
•
•
•
•
•
•
Realtors Association
Home Builders Association
Remodelers Association
Local “green” groups
Church services
What else?
Strategy Five: Collateral
Strategy Six: Utilize Your Network
Utilize Your Network
• At a…
– Board meeting
– Staff meeting
• Use notecards
• Who is one contact that might be able to help
us?
–
–
–
–
Business owner
Vendor
Neighborhood Association
Contractor
Strategy Seven: Partnerships
Partnerships
• Find LOCAL furniture, appliance, and cabinet
dealers
– What do their customers do with the old stuff?
– Can we put up signs?
– Can we train your staff?
• Permit office
– Can we leave some information?
• Operational Excellence is KEY
Strategy Eight: Trade Shows
Strategy Nine: Go Ask!
Strategy Ten: Say Thanks!