How to strengthen donor loyalty? A new study says talk less, listen more |
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by Drew Lindsay, contributor, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Donor loyalty may hinge on whether nonprofits talk with supporters, not at them.
That’s one of the findings from a new survey of donors that aims to identify what engenders long-term commitment to a charity. A nonprofit’s transparency — its effectiveness at providing information and demonstrating impact — remain critical, the survey found. More vital, however, are efforts to seek donors’ input and ensure that they feel as though their opinions are valued.
“Over the past few years, we’ve been talking about transparency and how that’s so important to the donor,” says Amanda Wasson, executive vice president for digital strategy at the RKD Group, a fundraising and marketing firm. “But sometimes you think you’ve checked that box by pushing out information or data about impact when what donors really want is to feel valued.”
RKD came to such conclusions after commissioning a survey of 1,334 donors. It conducted the research because many clients are looking for ways to retain the surge of new donors whose giving was motivated by pandemic crises, Wasson says.
Retaining donors — always a challenge for charities — is all the more important as the likelihood of an economic recession grows, says Woodrow Rosenbaum, GivingTuesday’s chief data officer.
“We might be heading for a cliff,” Rosenbaum says. “Organizations with a broad base of support are much more resilient” than those that lean heavily on wealthy donors in tough times.
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All leaders must adapt to the new world of work |
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Establishing an employee-centric work environment is a good business strategy |
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by Sara Johnson, director, executive education, clinical associate professor
The world of work is changing — and so are workers’ expectations. The call to leaders is clear: Adapt now or risk the organization’s future.
Adaptability is one of the keys to effective leadership. Those who adapt well know how to adjust their style when the situation calls for it. Another key is continual learning — being willing to find new ways to do things that will help you lead others and your organization while also improving worker satisfaction and organizational outcomes.
These elements of effective leadership are especially necessary in our current work environment. As employees around the world return to offices and worksites, leaders must recognize and act upon the reality of our new world of work. Not doing so means potentially losing good workers and watching organizations fail as a result. The price of this turnover can have a ripple effect on our communities and society, including economic impacts, hiring challenges, and an increased competition for quality workers.
Evidence of a workforce shift already is mounting. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 11.5 million workers quit their jobs between April and June of 2021. People are rethinking what is important to them and … well … it’s no longer “business as usual.”
In addition to those factors, workers say personal safety also is a consideration during the ongoing pandemic. As new strains of COVID-19 spread, working in a collective environment doesn’t feel safe to some.
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Holistic Leadership
During an 8-month series, from Nov. 17 to April 20, 2023, participants will learn how to redefine their purpose for growth and leadership while building a level of high trust with their teams through creative methodologies. Limited to 30 mid-level and upper-level leaders. Cost: $1,999, with a 10 percent discount for the first 10 registrants.
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Episode 21: Several months ago, United Way of Central Indiana hired its 15th President and CEO — Fred Payne, who has since hosted a series of community meet and greets. Shari Finnell and Bryan Orander of Charitable Advisors recently talked to Fred about what inspires him about nonprofit work, insights about the feedback he has heard from the community, and how he believes nonprofits can continue to evolve amidst change. Listen
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Indiana University has named Michael Huber as vice president for university relations, effective Oct. 17. Huber previously was CEO and president at the Indianapolis Chamber. |
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The Indianapolis Chamber has named Moira Carlstedt interim CEO. Carlstedt is the former longtime president and CEO of the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership. |
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How is Indianapolis doing? Get a monthly update on unemployment rates, housing prices, office occupancy, crime patterns, and other metrics that reveal how the Indianapolis metro area is recovering and emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. Presented by SAVI Talks. Review
Individuals can now view the collections of the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art online, thanks to a grant from the Lilly Endowment. The virtual database is searchable by collections, people, nationality, date, and person type. Explore
Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute is accepting applications for its premier training experience, which provides participants access to top thought leaders. Ideal candidates include senior leaders and board members in philanthropy, including public sector officials and high-potential individuals at foundations, corporations, and nonprofits. Those aspiring for those roles also can apply. Those interested in joining the 2023 class must apply by Oct. 27.
AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is seeking proposals which address a compelling community need. NCCC has a mission to strengthen communities and develops leaders through a full-time, team-based, residential national service program. Although shorter periods are possible, projects typically are six to eight weeks. Apply for funding for traditional or disaster response projects.
IndyGo is requesting feedback on a five-year plan that aims to provide more reliable and frequent transportation service for 21 hours a day, seven days a week. IndyGo will present the plan and receive public comment at three upcoming meetings scheduled for Oct. 11 at 5:30 p.m. at Community Justice Center, 675 Justice Way; Oct. 13 at 5:30 p.m. at 3039 N. Post Road; and Oct. 18 at 5:30 p.m. online .
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IU McKinney Law is offering a virtual Juris Doctor information session on Oct. 10 from noon-1 p.m. for those interested in applying to start law school in 2023. The one-hour session outlines the steps in the application process. Register
Nonprofit megatrends: Is your organization ready for the seismic shift ahead? hybrid training on Oct. 12 from 8 a.m.-noon. Learn the ways inflation and economic trends will impact your fundraising, day-to-day operations, and bottom line, and how to create a culture that attracts and retains top talent and combats burnout. Presented by Barnes Dennig. Cost: Free. Register
Key ways to boost mid-level giving webinar on Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. How to attract and engage middle donors, make them feel valued, and inspire them to give more. Presented by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Cost: $69. Register
The Giving Tuesday cheat sheet webinar on Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. Set Giving Tuesday goals and plan, create a schedule and execute your strategy. Presented by Nonprofit Tech for Good. Cost: Free. Register
Volunteer recruitment, retention, and more training on Oct. 20 from 10:30 a.m.-noon at Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St. Learn best practices and proven methods to recruit and retain volunteers. Presented by the Indianapolis Public Library. Cost: Free. Register
Visualizing text: A tour of qualitative data visualizations webinar on Oct. 21 at noon. This presentation is designed to support data scientists, researchers, and other analysts who need to quickly summarize information collected through interviews, focus groups, surveys, and other methods. Presented by Indiana Evaluation Association. Cost: $20 nonmembers. Register
Hunger & Health program and networking on Oct. 31 at Indianapolis Marriott, 350 W. Maryland St. Panelists and keynote speaker Fred Glass will address numerous challenges related to hunger, health equity, and coalition building. Presented by the IBJ and Gleaners. Cost: $40 for IBJ subscribers/ $50 nonsubscribers. Register by Oct. 25
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The Indianapolis Zoo needs volunteers to pass out candy and assist guests at its annual ZooBoo from Oct. 5-31. To begin the process of volunteering, complete a profile. A zoo representative will follow up for final steps, including completing a limited criminal history background check that will be paid for by the Zoo.
Central Indiana Land Trust is seeking volunteers on Oct. 12 from 10 a.m.- noon to help remove invasive plants at White River Bluffs, a nature preserve that is not yet open to the public. Learn more
Gleaners Food Bank is hosting a volunteer Young Professionals Night on Oct. 13 from 4:30-8 p.m. The event, which will include an overview of volunteer opportunities, will be followed by light refreshments. Register
Junior Achievement needs volunteers for its JA BizTown this fall. Individuals or groups are encouraged to sign up for a time commitment of four to five hours to assist students participating in 15 different businesses for the day. Register
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Nonprofit executives who are pressed for time and have limited resources can learn the secret to nonprofit innovation, including partnerships built through strategic networking.
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Discover how nonprofit leaders are rethinking their resources and using them efficiently in an unsettled economic environment. Download
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Our sponsor marketplace serves to further connect our readers with our advertisers who are focused on serving nonprofits. To learn about each sponsor's nonprofit services, click on its logo.
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FUND DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIC PLANNING
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BANKING/
ASSET MANAGEMENT
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Coworking memberships available
Nexus has month-to-month memberships available for open desks and dedicated desks in a shared coworking space. Memberships include free meeting room credits, access to high-speed internet, free copy, scanning, and printing, and free coffee in a community of small business owners and nonprofit employees. Monthly memberships range from $59 for lite memberships to $149 for a dedicated cubicle. Learn more and sign up
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CHARITABLE ADVISORS
FEATURED JOB POSTINGS
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Job Seekers, what do you think of Charitable Advisors’ new job board? We moved our job board to HiringOpps in late April. Now, we are anxious to find out how the new system is working as a job seeker. If you have applied for a job using the new system, could you please take 2-minutes to let us know how it is going?
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Executive Leadership (CEO/ED/COO)
Fund Development/Marketing/PR/Advocacy
Admin Support/Clerical
Finance/Accounting/HR/IT/Facility
Programs/Program Support
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