Donor stewardship: key tips to build relationships
The foundation of an effective fundraising strategy is the relationships your team forms with the people who power your mission.
Every member of your nonprofit team already knows how to build strong relationships with friends, co-workers, family members, significant others, and more. Magic happens when you build relationships with prospects and donors. This is where donor stewardship comes into play.
This guide covers everything you need to know to develop a powerful donor stewardship strategy that builds genuine, long-lasting relationships. We'll cover:
- What is the donor stewardship process?
- How does donor stewardship impact donor retention?
- How to use the donor pyramid to facilitate stewardship
- 5 key steps in a donor stewardship strategy
- 8 best practices for enacting your donor stewardship plan
- How Bloomerang supports donor stewardship
A solid donor stewardship plan ensures your donors feel seen and appreciated, setting your organization up for long-term fundraising success.
What is the donor stewardship process?
Donor stewardship is the act of building relationships with supporters after they donate to your nonprofit. A donor stewardship plan is a long-term strategy to strengthen those relationships to earn repeat donations from these individuals. This process involves thanking donors, learning about them as individuals, and demonstrating their impact through follow-up communications.
What is the difference between donor stewardship and cultivation?
You may have heard the term "donor cultivation" used interchangeably with "donor stewardship." Both of these terms fall under the umbrella of donor relationship-building, but they differ in key ways:
- Donor cultivation involves donor touchpoints before you make the ask.
- Donor stewardship involves relationship-building activities after supporters give.
Stewardship focuses primarily on maintaining relationships with donors after donating to show gratitude and secure long-term support.
How does donor stewardship impact donor retention?
Your donor retention rate measures how many donors continue to give to your organization over time.
By investing in donor stewardship and current donor relationships, you can retain their support, strengthen your community, and limit donor acquisition costs.
How to use the donor pyramid to facilitate stewardship
Your nonprofit's staff may have limited time and resources to build donor relationships. The donor pyramid can be a valuable tool for prioritizing donor stewardship efforts.
5 key steps in a donor stewardship strategy
The donor stewardship process begins when a supporter donates to your cause for the first time.
8 best practices for enacting your donor stewardship plan
Now that you know the basics, you can start stewarding your donors using your nonprofit's unique strengths.
How Bloomerang supports donor stewardship
Effective donor stewardship includes a combination of tried-and-true strategies and robust software solutions. Look into Bloomerang's Giving Platform to help power your stewardship efforts.
Review our customer stories to see how nonprofits using the Bloomerang Giving Platform see an average constituent growth of 12% year-over-year.
Wrapping up
Ultimately, we recommend approaching donor stewardship with curiosity and a willingness to meet your supporters where they are.
