Thursday February 12- Post donation

Hi !

Ralph: What’s cookin this week 

In this week’s enews…

• Get it done in February

• What YOU had to say 

• Great post: How to retain more donors

• Join #LearnGrants online summit

• This week’s poll: Smart states

The solution to the the Triple E (enews easter egg) from last week: Names of U.S. vice presidents.

In my year-end reader survey, I asked what content you’d like to see more of in the enews. Top four responses: Fundraising, email, donors and gratitude and retention.

Funny thing happened while considering what to write about this week: I’m gonna cover ALL FOUR of the above areas in one piece.

Let’s talk about February.

February? Yes, February.

Jack: It’s a great month to build relationships!

December 31 was only 43 days ago but it seems like a million years ago. So many things have happened since then!

Let’s go back and review. You spent the last 4+ weeks of 2025 asking people for a donation. You sent letters, emails, texts. You picked up the phone. You met in person.

You did your best to raise max dollars from max donors.

Having been in your shoes numerous times, I know what a slog it can be and how much work you put in at year-end. Some of you worked yourselves to the bone to hit and surpass your goals.

But what now? Have your supporters heard from you in the last six weeks? Have you shared even more thanks with them? Explained the impact of their gift?

One of my favorite fundraising sayings is this: “A donation is not the end of the road. It’s just the beginning.”

It’s easy to come to the office on January 2 and feel a sense of relief. The campaign is over. Money came in. We can start 2026 knowing we have enough (or close to it) to leave the lights on.

And that’s what I’m coming to warn you about this week!

There are many reasons why donors stop giving. But one of the most oft-cited reasons: Lack of communications. More specifically, lack of communications about how the gift was used.

READ THIS: Why your donors stopped giving (especially number one!!!)

Sure they got a thank you letter. But have you shared with them the impact of their gift? Thanked them again? Sent them a story or quote from a beneficiary demonstrating how their gift has directly helped someone?

This is why I mentioned February. It’s been six plus weeks since your donors answered your call to action. But if you’ve been silent- “we don’t want to bother them after we pestered them with giving requests in December…” 🙄 

I’ll bet that right now some of you are working on your next campaign. Maybe it’s a gala or a 10 mile walk or a fun get together. Want more people to join? Want more people to give?

Then you have to be using this time to do what comes AFTER a donation: Gratitude, tell impact, keep people informed and educated, build the relationship. Only then is it ok to go on to the next ask.

People want to feel good. They need reasons to smile. Think what a quick note thanking them for their generosity could do. Think how they’ll feel when they see a video of someone who was directly impacted by their gift.

Communications with supporters needs to be constant and consistent (as I said last month, those are my words of the year). Don’t go dark. Don’t stop communicating with people.

Write. Call. Email. Text. Message. Mail. Let them know you’re thinking of them. Tell donors how special they are. Make them feel the love.

Retention in our sector stinks. This February, get out ahead of the trend. Contact people and build the relationship. With the big ask in the rearview mirror, now’s the time.

What’s one thing you’ll do before February 28 to ensure donors feel the love and supporters hear from you? Reply to this email and lemme know!

Simon: Your turn

I ask for feedback because I want to hear from you. From time to time I’m gonna share some of the feedback you sent- positive or negative- because I wanna shine a spotlight on my favorite people: My subscriber community!

Last week I shared two examples of organizations bringing smiles to the faces of their audience.

Many thanks to subscriber Simone who shared this example of a monthly email that San Francisco based New Door Ventures sends. The organization is an early-intervention employment and education program for Bay Area youth age 17-24 who are disconnected from work and school. Take a look at this great donor-centric impact email they sent me last month.

I mentioned last week a great nonprofit in Minneapolis that services the cars of people who can’t afford it. Dana emailed me about a similar nonprofit in Denver. SparkHope Automotive provides vehicle-related services for working single moms. Such a wonderful idea!

And as far as Boston having the worst drivers in the U.S., I’ll just say this: I wasn’t surprised. Massholes for good and for bad.

Roger: A little of this and that

In this section I’m going to share with you great content I’ve picked out that you can learn from.

1. Do your donors know how much you appreciate them? MUST READ!!! (Ann Green)

2. Matching funds vs. challenge funds (The Better Fundraising Company)

3. How to write really good emails people will read (Mindlace)

4. How to retain more donors (Lisa Sargent)

5. How to avoid financial risks (Greater Giving)

Sam and Eric: Join the #LearnGrants Online Summit!

To help build excitement for International Grant Professionals Day, you’re invited to the seventh #LearnGrants Online Summit!

Six expert speakers will dive into the key stages of the grant lifecycle plus Q&A at the end of each session. All presentations will be recorded and sent to all participants.

Join on March 6th from 12-2pm EST. Celebrate your work related to grants for your organization.

🎶 This week I listened to Boston sports radio. Patriots lost in the Super Bowl and I wanted to hear if Boston sports radio would be ripping the team apart or not. If you’re from Boston, you already know the answer.

I’ll be back in your inbox next Thursday. Have a great weekend!

P.S. Can you tell me…