I love you.

Valentines day was just a few days ago and it got me thinking all about LOVE.

I have to say - I love donors.  They are LOVELY people who donate their hard earned money to charities they believe in. Hopefully charities they are passionate about.  It's an amazing thing when you think about it... most of them could probably find other things to do with that money quite easily, but instead, they are trusting someone else to use their money wisely to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, find a cure for cancer, take care of sick kids, protect our wildlife, conserve our land, or some other equally important cause.

I've been thinking a lot about how we thank donors for these gifts.  Do we just send them the obligatory, generic thank you note - like the one your mother used to make you send your grandmother at Christmas even though you didn't really want too - or do we really show them the love.

Lately I've seen a couple of really good demonstrations of love from charities to their donors.  The first is a video done by one of my favourite organizations, Charity Water.  It's impossible NOT to love everything they do.  They created this valentine for their donors - a powerful way to recognize their support. Check it out here.

Another organization I support is Operation Smile here in Australia.  I have to say, as a monthly donor, they not only make me feel loved, they make me feel like a valuable part of their work. Every month they send me my tax receipt - in a handwritten card.  Yes, a handwritten card, every month. They are signed by Norma... I'm not sure what her role is there... she could be a fundraising manager, a monthly giving program manager or a volunteer.  It doesn't really matter. All that matters is she is a real person who is taking the time to write me a letter.  The cards are short - they always thank me for my continued support and they always tell me about a recent medical mission they have taken or one they are about to take and they always make me feel like I am a part of it.  I look forward to hearing from them every month and even though they have yet to ask, these cards make me want to give more.

These are not the only examples of good donor care I have received.  Just recently Wesley Mission Brisbane sent me a personal Christmas card which went up on the wall with the ones we received from friends and family.  But these extraordinary examples of donor care are hard to come by - and I'm not sure why.  Please, please, please find a way to show your donors how much you love them.  This may differ for your $5 donors to your major donors to your monthly givers.  But for some reason these people have entrusted you with their gift and its so important to recognize that.

And perhaps - if we spent a bit more time really engaging our supporters, we could spend a bit less time searching for so many new ones.

In Defense of Premiums

This is my third attempt at writing this post this week. Every time I try I end up getting a bit lost in my thoughts and therefore my words. I guess that's because the topic is so controversial, and my head and my heart don't always align on this one.

I was listening to a podcast from a session given by a fundraiser I know and respect on the weekend (yes, I'm slightly ashamed to admit it, but I am that person...the one who downloads sessions from conferences I didn't attend and listens to them in my free time). She was speaking about acquisition and said 'A lot of charities that don't have an offer have to use premiums.' My stomach turned when I heard it. A thought shared by so many in our sector. But it troubled me because I work with so many amazing charities...ones with very real and very tangible offers that are easy to understand and that are inspiring to donors...and I send premiums on their behalf.

Today when I received my daily email from The Agitator that was all about premiums and linked to an article by Kevin Sherman suggesting that premiums are like crack-cocaine that feeling came rushing back. It's not a feeling of anger - believe me, I get it. I don't love the notion of premiums or the thought that we are 'guilting' people into making a gift. And the argument they offer makes so much sense. But I don't believe the issue of premiums has been presented in its entirety.

As I mentioned, I send premiums on behalf of a number of charities here in Australia. And I have to say we are seeing some amazing results. At the moment, premium response rates in Australia are extraordinary, and these mailings are generating a LOT of income. Even with the higher costs, some charities are breaking even or netting income on their mailings. If you've ever done acquisition you know that's incredible. I can't argue the fact that average gifts are lower...they are. And we expect that. But the good donors...the ones that may have also given to a non-premium appeal are still responding, and premium mailings are still generating gifts of $1,000 and higher. The difference is they are also bringing in many more small gifts which are helping to cover the costs of those mailings. And many of these new recruits do go on to give second gifts to future non-premium appeals.

Will this continue? I don't know. But for the time being it is providing a valuable income stream, allowing charities to increase their net income and do more good. And believe me, we are continuing to dig deep into the data and to watch the behaviour of these donors.

Coffee and inspiration

It's been a long time - two and a half years in fact - since I last wrote on this blog. And a LOT has happened in my life. I've become a mum, to a beautiful little girl who is the love of my life. She and I have moved around the world and for almost two years have called Sydney Australia home. I've continued working with Pareto and had the opportunity to partner with some amazing charities in Australia, New Zealand and even Hong Kong. Life has been good to me, and I am so grateful.

Lately though, I realize I've lost some of my fire. The chaos of life, a heavy workload and the changes in the definition of roles have taken a toll on me and lately I realize i have allowed myself to become a project manager, instead of a fundraiser. Project management is a very important part of what I do, but it isn't what gets me out of bed in the morning. It doesn't excite me or challenge me. It should be a function of my role, rather than the definition of my role.

I had coffee with a dear friend on the weekend and as we talked about the charities we were privileged to work with, ideas we had to help grow their causes and the amazing work we could partner with them in doing I felt like a spark went off and the fire was ignited again. I love what I do. Really love it. I get to make a difference in the world every day. That is an amazing opportunity but also a big responsibility. I am a fundraiser. And I have so much to learn. And I can't wait to learn it. I've decided to start writing again as a place to think out loud, to share ideas and hopefully, to engage in conversation with other fundraisers...with you.

I'm so thankful for my friends, colleagues and partners who inspire me everyday and I hope I can share with you some of that inspiration.