Q1 2025 fundraising data: mixed results, focus on retaining smaller donors

Donor acquisition gets a lot of attention in nonprofit circles, but it’s donor retention that truly powers sustainable growth. Studies consistently show that it costs far more to acquire a new donor than to keep an existing one—and yet, the statistics on retention rates show that the average donor retention rate hovers below 45% for many nonprofits. Retaining donors can be a challenge, but if you put it at the forefront of your strategy, you maximize your chances of keeping supporters around for longer. In this guide, we’ll explore how to prioritize donor retention as a key part of your fundraising strategy and provide actionable steps your team can implement right away. 👉 https://lnkd.in/gDfr-Hpd

The fundraising landscape has changed dramatically over the past decade — and traditional methods just don’t deliver the same results anymore. To stay ahead, nonprofits need to start cultivating new donors now. Building relationships early not only fuels future campaigns but strengthens long-term sustainability. Here’s a look at why it’s getting harder to acquire first-time donors and ways to improve donor cultivation in this era of giving. #CharityComplianceSolutions #Nonprofit #Fundraising #DonorEngagement #NonprofitTips

💡 Most people think grants are a one-time thing; that you win one, celebrate, and then start all over again from scratch. But after years in this field, I’ve learned the opposite is true. The most successful organizations don’t just chase grants, they build relationships. When you nurture long-term trust with grantmakers, grants become one of the most reliable and renewable sources of funding your organization can have. I’ve seen this firsthand: a client who started with a single $50K award now receives multi-year renewals, invitations to apply to new calls, and even introductions to other funders - all because they treated their donors like partners, not transactions. Here’s a 7-step guide on building long-term donor relationships that turn one-time grants into sustainable, recurring support: 🔹 Keep Your Promises Follow through on every commitment made; from project goals to financial accountability. Reliability is the foundation of trust. 🔹 Communicate Regularly and Transparently Be open about progress and challenges. Funders appreciate honesty more than perfection. 🔹 Conduct Thorough Prospect Research Know your donors well (their values, interests, and giving history) and engage them in ways that align with what they care about. 🔹 Show Genuine Appreciation A handwritten note, a personal thank-you call, or a meaningful story of impact goes further than you think. Gratitude deepens relationships. 🔹 Personalize Engagement Ditch generic updates. Tailor your interactions and communication to each donor’s style and priorities. 🔹 Involve Donors in Your Mission Invite them to events, site visits, or volunteer opportunities. When donors feel part of your story, they stay for the long term. 🔹 Regularly Update on Impact Share tangible results - outcomes, transformations, lives changed. It reassures funders that their investments are making a difference. In the end, successful fundraising isn’t about chasing new money — it’s about earning lasting trust. Grants don’t have to be one-offs. With the right approach, they can become the most dependable partners in your mission’s growth. ♻️ If you found this helpful, please repost so others can benefit too 🔔 Follow me for more resources and grant writing advice #grantsconsultant #nonprofitfunding #grantwriting #donordevelopment #fundraisingstrategy #communityimpact

Your Sustainer Program Called, It Wants MiLo Intelligence. 🤖 Sustainers are the heartbeat of nonprofit fundraising. But keeping that pulse strong? Not always easy. That’s where MiLo Intelligence steps in. Think of it as your fundraising crystal ball (with a lot more strategy behind it). MiLo uses your own data—not a co-op’s—to predict who’s ready to become a sustainer, who might be slipping away, and where your next best campaign dollars should go. ✨ The result: smarter segmentation, fewer surprises, and way less time chasing lapsed sustainers.

A lot of nonprofits see their annual report as just another box to check — something you have to do for compliance. But here’s the thing: it can be so much more than that. Your annual report is one of the best opportunities all year to tell your story. It’s a chance to show the real impact your work is having — not just with numbers, but with people and outcomes that matter. When you shift your thinking from “we need to report our finances” to “we want to share the difference we’re making,” everything changes. It stops being a task and starts becoming a way to build deeper trust and connection with your community. Donors still want transparency, of course. But more than anything, they want to feel part of the mission. They want to see how their support created change. I’ve seen organizations completely transform how they engage with supporters just by approaching their annual report differently — turning dry data into stories that inspire action. How about you? When you think about your annual report this year, is it just paperwork… or is it a chance to bring people closer to your cause? Learn how to create reports that actually engage your stakeholders: https://bit.ly/4mY3Xmm #NonprofitLeadership #AnnualReports #DonorEngagement #NonprofitManagement #Transparency #StakeholderEngagement

A lot of nonprofits see their annual report as just another box to check — something you have to do for compliance. But here’s the thing: it can be so much more than that. Your annual report is one of the best opportunities all year to tell your story. It’s a chance to show the real impact your work is having — not just with numbers, but with people and outcomes that matter. When you shift your thinking from “we need to report our finances” to “we want to share the difference we’re making,” everything changes. It stops being a task and starts becoming a way to build deeper trust and connection with your community. Donors still want transparency, of course. But more than anything, they want to feel part of the mission. They want to see how their support created change. I’ve seen organizations completely transform how they engage with supporters just by approaching their annual report differently — turning dry data into stories that inspire action. How about you? When you think about your annual report this year, is it just paperwork… or is it a chance to bring people closer to your cause? Learn how to create reports that actually engage your stakeholders: https://bit.ly/4mY3Xmm #NonprofitLeadership #AnnualReports #DonorEngagement #NonprofitManagement #Transparency #StakeholderEngagement

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆? We worked with the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) to develop a DIY guide to collective fundraising that their network members – nonprofit newsrooms – could use to foster collaboration and increase revenue. In an environment of increasingly constrained funding, 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗶𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 that organizations seek their cut from, rather than just competitively trying to grab a larger slice. The guide scales INN’s member support efforts to its members so more of them can benefit from collective fundraising approaches that can enhance their financial viability and sustainability. Our research included interviews with organizations already practicing collective fundraising, in the nonprofit news space and beyond, to learn from their efforts, successes, and challenges. We drafted case studies based on these experiences to accompany the guide. We launched the guide earlier this year – and drafted this blog to share key lessons on how to activate collective fundraising for other sectors and spaces. https://lnkd.in/drjDU5Yc #CollectiveFundraising #Networks #SustainableFunding

Did you realize that 90% of nonprofit funding typically originates from just 10% of donors? Relying solely on traditional wealth screening methods may not be sufficient to identify high-potential prospects. Innovative tools now merge confirmed wealth data, relationship intelligence, and executive insights to uncover major gift opportunities. It's crucial for your team to concentrate on the donors with the greatest potential for transformational impact. Discover more in our recent article on enhancing donor engagement - https://okt.to/3TFQK7

Building lasting trust with your stakeholders—donors, volunteers, funders, and partners—takes more than good intentions. It requires transparency, consistent communication, and a genuine commitment to shared impact. A great article from Nonprofit Hub breaks down actionable ways nonprofits can strengthen trust and credibility: ✅ Be transparent about both successes and challenges. ✅ Communicate regularly—don’t just reach out when you need support. ✅ Show measurable impact with real data and stories. ✅ Invite stakeholders to collaborate and provide feedback. ✅ Follow through on your promises, every time. Trust isn’t built overnight—it’s earned through consistency and authenticity. Read the full article here: https://hubs.li/Q03PnVB50

Building lasting trust with your stakeholders—donors, volunteers, funders, and partners—takes more than good intentions. It requires transparency, consistent communication, and a genuine commitment to shared impact. A great article from Nonprofit Hub breaks down actionable ways nonprofits can strengthen trust and credibility: ✅ Be transparent about both successes and challenges. ✅ Communicate regularly—don’t just reach out when you need support. ✅ Show measurable impact with real data and stories. ✅ Invite stakeholders to collaborate and provide feedback. ✅ Follow through on your promises, every time. Trust isn’t built overnight—it’s earned through consistency and authenticity. Read the full article here: https://hubs.li/Q03PnZlm0