February 5, 2026

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8 Donor Retention Mistakes Nonprofits Should Avoid

by Richard Perry

It is amazing what we will do in the nonprofit sector to tell donors they are not wanted, not welcome, and not appreciated. You may say you are not consciously trying to get rid of donors. Who does that? Well, far more organizations than you think do.

Most donor retention problems don’t stem from bad intent. They come from everyday behaviors that quietly erode trust, weaken relationships, and make donors feel disconnected from the mission. Left unaddressed, these missteps compound over time — and loyal donors drift away.

Here are the eight most common donor retention mistakes nonprofits should avoid this year.

1. Have a Relationship That Is All About the Donor’s Money

Your relationship with your donor is not about the money. It is about fulfilling their passions and interests. When you make it about their money, you become transactional. You show that what you really care about is what you can get from the donor, rather than how you and the donor, together, can tackle the societal problem your organization is addressing.

2. Fail to Show That a Gift Made a Difference

This is one of the biggest failures in fundraising and one of the main reasons so many organizations lose donors — they don’t tell the donor the very thing the donor needs in their relationship to the organization, namely: “What is my gift actually accomplishing?” I have seen millions of dollars slip away simply because the donor did not know what their giving was accomplishing. Many nonprofits work very hard at getting the gift and do very little in telling the donor how their gift made a difference.

3. Ignore the Donor’s Interests

You have likely experienced this yourself. You give to an organization because you are interested in a specific thing the organization is doing. But in their response to you, they talk about something completely different. It is so interesting — and so offensive. I’ve even had this happen in personal relationships where the person knows my interest is X, but they keep asserting it is Y. It is such a hollow, hurtful thing. And we do that to donors. A donor has specific interests. Ignore them at your peril. Work hard to find out what they are.

4. Delay Thanking the Donor for Their Gift

Imagine giving a gift to someone and they respond to you in four weeks. What message does that behavior send? Not good, is it? But we do that with donors. The back offices of so many organizations are in such disrepair that getting a gift acknowledgment — much less a proper “thank-you” — is almost impossible. As a consequence, the donor is left out of the equation, and proper stewardship does not happen. The result? Donors are negatively affected and go away.

5. Keep Poor Records of Donor Interactions

You sent the donor a series of emails. You invited them to two events. You mailed them a couple of things. They came to the office. And you did not keep a record of any of it. How frustrating is that? The donor wonders: “Do you know me? Don’t you remember what I told you?” Keep good records so that the donor can be known no matter who is relating to her.

6. Ignore the Donor’s Communication Preferences

This is a common problem. The donor has expressed very clearly that their communication preference is email. And they do not want you calling them. And, for goodness sake, do not show up at their house or work. But no one has kept a record of this. So, someone decides — because of the level and frequency of their giving — that they will meet face-to-face. Why? Because they think it is a good idea, and the boss insisted on it as well. Result? Friction and a negative response because the donor’s communication preferences have been ignored.

7. Fail to Share Changes to a Funded Project

You persuaded the donor to fund the project or program they are interested in. Then the project changes direction. You are afraid to tell the donor, fearing they will be upset. So, you don’t. Big mistake. The donor will feel deceived, and you will lose in the relationship. Always be transparent. And do it quickly — when you know things have changed.

8. Avoid Addressing Donor Concerns or Conflict

Conflict avoidance is a huge problem in fundraising. A donor has a problem with a person in the organization or with the organization itself, and the insiders ignore it for fear of the conflict. If you do this, you will cause more problems. Face what is going on in the relationship quickly and openly.

Just do one or more of these things in 2026, and you’ll be sure to get rid of your donor. If, on the other hand, you want to keep your donor, work hard to ensure none of these things happen by developing a clear, respectful approach to stewardship and communication. Strong donor retention depends on consistent stewardship, clear communication, and honoring what donors value most.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

The Health Collaborative (THC) is thrilled to announce their new Board President, Cory D. Shaw, President and Chief Executive Officer of UC Health.

Matt Janzaruk has joined the Boards of Trustees of Bethesda Inc. and bi3. Matt brings deep financial leadership and governance expertise to the boards.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Carnegie is happy to announce the launch of our First Show Free initiative.

In support of expanding access to the arts, The Carnegie is proud to launch its First Show Free initiative in the 2026 season. Designed to welcome new audiences to live theatre, the program offers two complimentary tickets to a first-time Carnegie visitor for one 2026 performance. Details can be found at thecarnegie.com/firstfree .

ArtsWave marks its 99th year with the launch of the 2026 ArtsWave Community Campaign, the region’s primary source of funding for the arts and the largest community arts campaign in the nation.

Cincinnati and Dayton Ronald McDonald Houses Merge to Create Ronald McDonald House Southwest Ohio.

The Notre Dame Urban Education Center (NDUEC) is pleased to announce it has received a $50,000 challenge grant from the Butler Foundation to support its mission of advancing educational opportunities for children and families in Covington and surrounding communities.

Boone County Public Library has received a $5,000 continuing education grant from the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives to support professional development for library staff in 2026. This funding will help expand staff training opportunities that strengthen library services for the Boone County community.

Flywheel Accelerators marked a major milestone in 2025, celebrating ten years of advancing social innovation and supporting purpose-driven founders across Greater Cincinnati and beyond. Since its founding, Flywheel has helped build a more inclusive innovation ecosystem, one founder, one idea, and one community partnership at a time.

YWCA names 2026 Career Women of Achievement honorees: Ten Greater Cincinnati-area women have been selected as the 2026 YWCA Greater Cincinnati Career Women of Achievement. The honorees will be celebrated April 30 at Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, historically the region’s largest business luncheon and the YWCA’s largest annual fundraiser. For the full list of honorees and their bios, click here.

Wyoming Fine Arts Center Presents The Orchard, a Free City-Wide Community Art Project led by Cincinnati-based artist Holly Yarab, taking place January through summer 2026 at neighborhood library branches across Greater Cincinnati. For more information about The Orchard, contact Wyoming Fine Arts Center Executive Director Brianna Matzke at director@musicartdance.org.

A $10 million estate gift from the Alpaugh Foundation will support the Alpaugh Family Economics Center at the University of Cincinnati, continuing the extraordinary legacy the Alpaugh family began half a century ago.

Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) is grateful to the RSM US Foundation for a $2,500 grant in support of Early Childhood and Youth Services.

CABVI appreciates a $5,000 grant from Western & Southern Financial Group to help provide adaptive services and equipment for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Santa Maria Community Services, Inc. is proud to share the findings from a recent evaluation of its Promoting Our Preschoolers (POP) program conducted by the University of Cincinnati’s Arlitt Child and Family Research Education Center.

In celebration of Black History Month, the historic Harriet Beecher Stowe House is proud to announce its second annual Pop-Up Shop Day on Saturday, February 7th from 12pm-4pm.

The LaRosa Family Foundation recognizes its Game Changers MVP honoree, De’Shawn Hicks, standout tight end for the Titans football team, recognized for his leadership, unwavering work ethic and positive attitude.

FUNDING AND RESOURCE OPPORTUNITIES

Elevar Fund's Open Call for Applications - deadline March 15, 2026. From early-stage support to established organizations facing a critical moment or looking to expand, we welcome hearing about how we can support creative solutions to today’s challenges. We invite proposals from existing 501(c)(3) organizations based in the Dayton and Cincinnati region. Our focus areas - Regenerative Agriculture & Environmental Concerns, Immigrant & Refugee Support Services, Entrepreneurship & Invention, Education & the Arts Grant awards will range from $1,000 to $10,000. To learn more and apply, visit our website: www.elevarfund.org

Spectrum will award $1 million in Spectrum Digital Education grants in 2026, bringing the program’s total investment to more than $12 million since 2017. Spectrum Digital Education partners with local nonprofits to help community members build their digital skills and access the tools and devices they need to succeed in their education, careers and everyday lives. Nonprofits can learn more and apply between February 2 and February 27.

A Spring 2026 class at NKU will look at occupational therapy intervention and program planning for group and activity development. We are looking for community partners to help us teach our students. We would like to invite applications from nonprofits (or programs within nonprofits) that are focused on supporting psychosocial support and group opportunities towards building a stronger community. One agency will be selected by the students to receive a $2,000 grant to support the implementation of an occupational therapy-psychosocial health and wellness site objectives. Find more information here, or contact Angela Boyd at boyda9@nku.edu.

The Spirit of Construction Foundation's 2026 grant application is now open. We are seeking applications from programs that help to educate young people about potential careers in construction. Applications can be submitted by filling out the online application. Grant submissions are due by February 13, 2026. All grants will be reviewed by our grants committee to determine merit, purpose, and award amount. Should you have any questions regarding the grant application process please reach out to Amanda Smith at amanda.smith@spiritofconstruction.org.

Horizon Community Foundation is pleased to announce its 2026 Community Impact Fund (CIF) grant cycle, offering a total of $115,000 in competitive grant funding to strengthen Northern Kentucky communities through innovation, partnership, and measurable progress. This year, the Foundation is encouraging nonprofit applicants to bring forth a bold idea — one capable of addressing a significant community need and demonstrating the potential for deep and lasting impact. For more information, visit here or contact Nancy Grayson at ngrayson@horizoncfnky.org or 859.757.1552.

bi3, Interact for Health, and The Joe Burrow Foundation are calling on Greater Cincinnati schools serving grades 7–12 to participate in World Teen Mental Wellness Day on March 2, 2026. Students can apply for up to $1,000 in funding to plan and lead creative, student-driven activities that promote mental wellness. World Teen Mental Wellness Day raises awareness about the mental health challenges teens face and encourages open dialogue, connection, and support. Many local teens report struggles with anxiety and depression, but stigma and lack of awareness often keep them from seeking help. Learn more and apply here.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Is your 2026 already feeling overwhelmed by clutter or a busy schedule? If so, Sycamore Presbyterian Church is presenting its next in a series of FREE workshops for individuals and families in the community, “The Mess Mender Series”, Wednesdays, Feb. 11-March 18 from 1p-2:30pm. To register for this workshop, visit The Mess Mender.

Collaborate and engage with peers and professionals from Forvis Mazars as we share insights to help higher education institutions navigate current challenges Tuesday, March 3rd. This interactive, CPE-eligible event will offer education and ideas for bolstering your institution’s financial health. Learn more and register here.

2026 Forum on Aging presented by Global Meals, taking place March 3–4 at the Sharonville Convention Center. The final day to register in advance is Friday, February 20. Walk‑in registrations will be accepted on March 3–4, though rates will be higher. Register here.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Liberty Street Market Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteer shifts are Monday through Friday, morning from 7:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. and afternoon from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each shift is limited to 10 volunteers. Learn more here.

How great people managers lead when the fog rolls in

If you manage people today, you’ve probably noticed it: the uncertainty that creeps in long before anyone names it. The mood shifts. The energy zaps. People hesitate.

Respect is declining at work - here's how to fix it - S. Chris Edmonds offers strategies to create a respectful company culture.

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