• Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Contact us
  • My Account
  • Cart
  • Checkout
  • 0Shopping Cart
DCS Robin L. Cabral, MA, CFRE | Development Consulting Solutions
  • About Robin
  • Products
    • Webinars
    • Board Development Group Mastermind Coaching
    • Templates
  • Resources
    • Blog
      • Board development
      • Campaigns
      • Donor relations
      • Grant Writing
      • Individual Giving
      • Major gifts
      • Online
      • Planning
      • Small shop fundraising
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
    • Videos
  • Speaking
    • Topics
    • Schedule
    • Testimonials
  • Community
  • Services
    • Coaching with Robin L. Cabral, MA CFRE, MFIA
    • Consulting
    • Speaking topics
    • Clients
    • Testimonials
  • Australia Office Services
    • Visit our Australian website
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
Direct mail, Individual Giving, Small shop fundraising, Uncategorized

Will I raise money with donor acquisition?

I often get asked by nonprofit organizations, what is the value of conducting a donor acquisition campaign?

Well, if you are looking to make money, you probably will not at first.

Donor acquisition mailings frequently do not pay for themselves. It is only when donors renew and increase their contributions that the donations from mail can grow to significant levels.

So, the next logical questions is, why I should I spend money to lose it?

Well, any in-house donor list will suffer from attrition over time. Donors lose interest in your cause. Some move away. Some die. But, in order for the number of donors and contributed income to increase, non-profit organizations must actively promote their donor acquisition program. Without new donors, a development program will shrink.

When you start to run the numbers, donor acquisition doesn’t seem to make great economic sense. In fact, many board members and staff have turned down donor acquisition as the results to not appear to justify the cost.

But, don’t let quick thinking dissuade you from starting a program. The fact is, you might actually lose money but gain new mail-responsive donors. With an aggressive renewal program, these costs can be recouped and you will be on your way to a robust development program.

Acquisition campaigns are designed to attract new donors, not dollars – in the short term. As you add more and more donors to the organization and engage them, after several years, your net income should increase dramatically.

May 23, 2012/by hireacfre
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on LinkedIn

Contact

Development Consulting Solutions
New Bedford, MA
(508) 685-8899
rcabral@developmentconsultingsolutions.com
Join Our Community

Schedule Free Session

Schedule your first 30-minute complimentary session to see if we are a great fit!

Book Now

Quick Links

  • Visit us on Facebook
  • Visit us on Twitter
  • Visit us on LinkedIn

Join our Newsletter

Fill out this form to sign up for our email newsletter

© Copyright - Development Consulting Solutions | Privacy Policy
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
How do you make new donors feel welcome? Have you strategically planned?
Scroll to top

Get my FREE Ebook on the Building Blocks for a Successful Case for Support

Sign up to get FREE instant access to this Ebook now.

Fill out this form to sign up for our email newsletter.