How to get the second gift

In case you were wondering, the Bloomerang blog has an answer to an important question: The Single Simplest Way To Improve Fundraising Results Is.

The answer: Have a first-time donor communications strategy.

That means a lot of things. Here are the top seven things you must accomplish with your new first-time donors:

• Donor perceives your organization to be effective in trying to achieve its mission.
  
• Donor knows what to expect from your organization with each interaction.
  
• Donor receives timely a thank you.
  
• Donor receives opportunities to make his or her views known.
  
• Donor is given the feeling that he or she is part of an important cause.
  
• Donor feels his or her involvement is appreciated.
  
• Donor receives information showing who is being helped.
  

I have one thing to add to this great advice:

You will be tempted to impress your new donors into repeat giving by bragging. Don’t do it. It doesn’t work.