Psst… Event Sponsorships Are NOT about the Event
Recently, a NP leader shared their disappointment after a 5-figure gift ask was answered with a gift at just a fraction of that. (And it wasn’t because the donor was short on cash.)
So disappointing. After a few moments of shared lament, I moved to assessment. We explored all the factors that could have contributed to the lesser gift. It will take more conversation with the donor to confirm, but the most likely factor?
The ask was framed as an event sponsorship.
As in, “Won’t you give us money to host a social?”
The ask had no connection to the org’s mission or the donor’s passion for the mission—perhaps something like:
“Your gift will help local families find stable housing and grow a more vibrant community for us all.”
See the difference?
Connecting the gift to the outcome is essential for helping donors understand the impact they can have by partnering with your org. Asks that are grounded in outcome inspire donors to partnership. That takes a proper message strategy.
Successful fundraising teams have a strong, strategic messaging foundation to build on, so that every ask can be framed for the donor’s POV. Strategic messaging work is powerful—I’ve seen it boost donor partnership for every org I’ve worked with.
Reach out to schedule a Change Chat to learn how my approach can equip your team for the strategic donor messaging that produces top-dollar gifts and passionate partners for the cause.
Ready for more?
Here are two ways I can help you make your mission irresistible to donors:
1. Connect with me or follow me on LinkedIn.
That’s the first place I explore donor strategy ideas like these. Be sure to join the convo!
2. Work with me.
I help nonprofits already raising $1M+ annually to remove the mission-critical blind spots that keep their donors from giving and keep their teams running ragged. Should we work together? Let’s see!
Schedule your 15-minute Change Chat here and share about your nonprofit and how you’d like to improve your donor strategy.