Knowing doesn't refer to mere demographics or geographic segments of the population. Deep, powerful knowledge of your audience comes from psychographics. Their desires, fears, beliefs, frustrations, interests, and past donating preferences.

So how do you get to know them? What are the tools that reveal donor thinking and psychographics?

• Study complaint letters you receive. They usually reveal a great deal about your donor's expectations and feelings. Study any letters from donors and prospective donors.
• Examine the mailing list data card. Begin near the top of the card. Here is a useful description of what the prospects have responded to or donated to in the past. Next is the profile data. I recommend you be skeptical of this information. Finally, the golden data on the card comes from the usage history. These are "competitors" who have used the list for continuous runs.

Take a close look at who else is successfully using the list. Study their web sites, publications, and copies of their mailings. Learn about their mission as it compares to yours. All this reveals insight into what emotions motivate the donors.

• Talk to your major donors. Have someone in your organization in a high position make the phone call - such as the Executive Director, Director of Development, or possibly someone on the board. First thank them for their generosity. Then ask them a few questions about why they give to your mission. What do they like
  Effective Business Cards for Small Business
  It’s a well-known fact that anyone owning a business or a part of a business carries a bunch of visiting cards to be given away to people with whom there is a possibility of future contact and interaction. A business card usually carries details about the person’s designation, organization that he represents office/factory address, t
  dge of your audience comes from psychographics. Their desires, fears, beliefs, frustrations, interests, and past donating preferences.

  So how do you get to know them? What are the tools that reveal donor thinking and psychographics?

  • Study complaint letters you receive. They usually reveal a great deal about your donor's expectations and feelings. Study any letters from donors and prospective donors.
  • Examine the mailing list data card. Begin near the top of the card. Here is a useful description of what the prospects have responded to or donated to in the past. Next is the profile data. I recommend you be skeptical of this information. Finally, the golden data on the card comes from the usage history. These are "competitors" who have used the list for continuous runs.

  Take a close look at who else is successfully using the list. Study their web sites, publications, and copies of their mailings. Learn about their mission as it compares to yours. All this reveals insight into what emotions motivate the donors.

  • Talk to your major donors. Have someone in your organization in a high position make the phone call - such as the Executive Director, Director of Development, or possibly someone on the board. First thank them for their generosity. Then ask them a few questions about why they give to your mission. What do they lik
    With a Health Care Background You Can Find a Rewarding Career in Life Care Planning
    Individuals dealing with catastrophic injuries and health problems often need an advocate to help them effectively deal with all the issues surrounding this type of serious situation. Life care planners bridge the gap between the medical and legal communities helping patients and their families cope with these issues and provide and
    s expectations and feelings. Study any letters from donors and prospective donors.
  • Examine the mailing list data card. Begin near the top of the card. Here is a useful description of what the prospects have responded to or donated to in the past. Next is the profile data. I recommend you be skeptical of this information. Finally, the golden data on the card comes from the usage history. These are "competitors" who have used the list for continuous runs.

  Take a close look at who else is successfully using the list. Study their web sites, publications, and copies of their mailings. Learn about their mission as it compares to yours. All this reveals insight into what emotions motivate the donors.

  • Talk to your major donors. Have someone in your organization in a high position make the phone call - such as the Executive Director, Director of Development, or possibly someone on the board. First thank them for their generosity. Then ask them a few questions about why they give to your mission. What do they lik
    Functions Of Bench Scales
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    lden data on the card comes from the usage history. These are "competitors" who have used the list for continuous runs.

  Take a close look at who else is successfully using the list. Study their web sites, publications, and copies of their mailings. Learn about their mission as it compares to yours. All this reveals insight into what emotions motivate the donors.

  • Talk to your major donors. Have someone in your organization in a high position make the phone call - such as the Executive Director, Director of Development, or possibly someone on the board. First thank them for their generosity. Then ask them a few questions about why they give to your mission. What do they lik
    Building Client Trust with Case Studies
    Case Studies can help professional service providers build trust and credibility with clients and prospects. When you are working with intangibles such as services it hard to prove what you can do and why you are the best person to provide the services that your prospective clients need. Case studies can help you shine and prove your
    tions motivate the donors.

    • Talk to your major donors. Have someone in your organization in a high position make the phone call - such as the Executive Director, Director of Development, or possibly someone on the board. First thank them for their generosity. Then ask them a few questions about why they give to your mission. What do they like best about what you're doing? I strongly recommend making these calls.
    • Do what they do. Check out the magazines, books, newsletters, web sites, ads, and products targeted for your donors and prospects. Examine them and get a feel for what's working.

    Armed with this knowledge you can "become" the donor or prospect. You understand how they think and what they think about. You know their beliefs; what keeps them awake at night; and what they respond to.

    And this is the foundation for great copy that hits your donor's hot button... triggers an emotional reaction... and motivates them to act - to donate. Your fundraising efforts will improve when you know your donors and you write copy that resonates with them based on this knowledge.