Skip to content
Agents of Good
Agents of Good
We Are Agents of Good and So Are You!
  • Home
  • Agents of Good
  • Blog
    • Top 10 Blog Posts
    • Star Wars Series
  • Speaking
  • Work
  • Clients
  • Testimonials
  • Connect
  • Home
  • Agents of Good
  • Blog
    • Top 10 Blog Posts
    • Star Wars Series
  • Speaking
  • Work
  • Clients
  • Testimonials
  • Connect

The 2016 forecast

Tis the season to gaze into our crystal balls and start to make some predictions about #donorlove in the year ahead.

Here are a few of mine:

– Have more of an emotive range in your communications and fundraising (STOP reporting!!!)
– Add more human faces to the names and signatures at the bottom of letters, on the pages of your websites, in your emails – let your donor know who is talking with them
– Create regular opportunities for your donors to talk TO YOU! Include spaces on your reply devices, add a few back mechanism with your newsletter or an insert in your direct mail pack
– Just SAY NO to passive fundraising – ASK with purpose!
– PLEASE stop being so damn worried about how professional your look, sound, act, talk, move, etc – you seem more robotic and less human all the time – and who wants to give to an uncaring robot?
– Keep thanking your donor until it feels like you are going WAY overboard (BTW – when was the last time you felt like you were thanked too much?)
– Fire your marketing grads, English majors, corporate sector CEO’s and bored Board members – replace them with loving, feeling and PASSIONATE human’s
– Get back to having conversations with humans in EVERY channel – not selling to them. The focus on sales has DESTROYED face to face, telemarketing, direct mail, Facebook, twitter, email and even tinder. Time to start over.
– Tell BETTER stories with BETTER and UNEXPECTED voices.
– Say “thanks” faster
– STOP getting in the way of donors who WANT TO HELP you WIN!

What would you add to these #donorlove trends for 2016?

Category: Awareness, Direct Mail, Fun, John Lepp, Opinion, Social Media, WritingBy John LeppDecember 10, 20157 Comments

Author: John Lepp

Agent John is a long time marketer, designer and ranter. Agent Jen calls him "authentic". Others may not be so kind. The truth is, John wears his heart on his sleeve and when provoked will wave his hands and raise his voice an octave as he voices his frustration and opinions. And a blog post may even come of it.

Post navigation

PreviousPrevious post:Bivalves and Lessons in GratitudeNextNext post:Dear Granny Love…

Related posts

Interviews & Conversations
February 14, 2019
Have You Heard of The 3 Deaths?
February 8, 2019
#DonorLove Echoes
January 30, 2019
#donorlove celebration: THE WINNER IS…
January 14, 2019
#donorlove celebration: New Donor Love (Bungee) Heights from Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home
December 4, 2018
#donorlove celebration: The College of Dentistry Know the Donor Love Drill
December 4, 2018

7 Comments

  1. Tania Little says:
    December 11, 2015 at 2:28 pm

    Well said truths…not always easy to hear (if you’re not doing them all), but doesn’t make them any less valid.

    These predictions if implemented today will help our missions be achieved in ways we never thought possible.

    #Donorlove done well = opportunities for people to change the world.

     Reply
  2. John Lepp says:
    December 11, 2015 at 2:33 pm

    Thanks for commenting and sharing Tania! And I agree – forget about the big fancy stuff – these are the sorts of things that WILL transform your organization… I guarantee it!

     Reply
  3. claire axelrad says:
    December 12, 2015 at 2:42 am

    Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
    This is good stuff! Here’s a tidbit to add:
    Renowned donor retention strategist and researcher, Penelope Burk, coined the phrase: “Treat every donor like a major donor.” This doesn’t literally mean put every $10 contributor on a track for ‘moves management.’ It means you never know what any person who walks through your door (physically or virtually) might bring to you.
    This reminds me of the old adage: “Be nice to people on the way up; you may meet them on the way down.” Playing nice applies to staff and volunteers as well as supporters.
    Invest in creating an organization-wide culture of philanthropy.
    It takes a village to raise funds successfully. Lose the “it’s not my job” culture. Develop a plan to get everyone on board this year.

     Reply
    • John Lepp says:
      December 13, 2015 at 3:35 pm

      I love these additions! Thank you Claire for commenting!

       Reply
  4. http://gtarestoration.com says:
    January 20, 2016 at 12:27 am

    Very Good Blog! Thanks for commenting and sharing Tania! I also agree – forget about the big fancy stuff – these are the sorts of things that WILL transform your organization… we guarantee it!

     Reply
  5. Simon says:
    January 4, 2017 at 1:36 pm

    #DonorLove or die tryin’.

     Reply
    • John Lepp says:
      January 4, 2017 at 1:38 pm

      Amen Agent Simon.

       Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

clear formPost comment



Looking for a specific topic or post? Just search!
Other random posts
  • Love-Speak
    November 23, 2012
  • Your Website: Putting the power back in your hands
    December 9, 2009
  • Pandora’s box
    September 3, 2014
  • As The Story Goes…
    October 30, 2016
Topic
  • #donorlove (14)
  • Awareness (24)
  • Bequests (10)
  • Branding (44)
  • Case Study (52)
  • David Love (12)
  • Direct Mail (106)
  • Fun (70)
  • Graphic Design (50)
  • Jen Love (84)
  • John Lepp (140)
  • Mark Haak (7)
  • Opinion (111)
  • Secret Agent report (10)
  • Social Media (42)
  • Star Wars Fundraising (4)
  • Top 10 (10)
  • Uncategorized (4)
  • Writing (85)
Latest Tweets
  • Tweet Avatar
    @agentsofgood
    @@agentsofgood
    @TheDMailMan thank you for sharing Blase!

    4 weeks ago
  • Tweet Avatar
    @agentsofgood
    @@agentsofgood
    RT @TheDMailMan: From @agentsofgood - What are "delighters" and why does your #nonprofit need them? https://t.co/R2TeynEAgY #fundraising

    4 weeks ago
  • Tweet Avatar
    @agentsofgood
    @@agentsofgood
    RT @BTalisman: I be there #donorlove SW Jan 19-20 led by @agentjenlove @johnlepp @ToastFundraiser @BeateSorum & @Markyphillips. $… https://t.co/VPZ6kZD9G6

    2 months ago
Testimonials
  • I first brought the Agents of Good on board to write and design a new acquisition direct mail package. This package performed extremely well for Second Harvest, and has since become our control package for all subsequent acquisition mailings. The Agents of Good are now our chief strategic advisors, designers, and copywriters for our integrated direct response program, and their work consistently performs at a high level, both in terms of response rate and revenue raised. The Agents consistently challenge the development team to push our boundaries, test our theories, and confront our preconceived notions about what donors want. On the digital front, the Agents have redesigned our website and are working with Second Harvest to integrate direct mail, email and online channels to create a fully integrated direct response program. I highly recommend the John and Jen (and team) for any organization looking to improve its individual giving program and think more strategically about donor-centered fundraising.

    Josh Bowman, Development Associate, Second Harvest
© Agents of Good. All Rights Reserved. Website Design
  • Home
  • Agents of Good
  • Blog
    • Top 10 Blog Posts
    • Star Wars Series
  • Speaking
  • Work
  • Clients
  • Testimonials
  • Connect
Main