If you lead a nonprofit organization with a mission that requires financial support, an effective donor stewardship strategy is a must-have. My guest today, philanthropist Lisa Greer, knows this all too well…
When she and her husband became members of the 1% overnight, they were thrilled at the idea of contributing to causes as five-star philanthropists…but, as more and more nonprofit fundraisers began to reach out seeking sizable gifts, Lisa uncovered some hard truths.
Only 18% of people who give do so a second time. Why? Because unfortunately, many nonprofit fundraisers struggle to maintain positive donor relations that stand the test of time — and this ends up costing their orgs (and the causes they champion) millions of dollars.
As a philanthropist and the author of Philanthropy Revolution, Lisa Greer has some valuable, firsthand insights on how organizations can cultivate strong, lifelong donor relationships.
From treating donors like ATMs to not keeping them in the loop, she joins me today to fill us in on some of the most common donor stewardship mistakes organizations make and how you can avoid them.
Listen in to find out:
- What are the most common mistakes nonprofit fundraisers make when it comes to donor stewardship?
- How can nonprofit fundraisers improve donor relations for their organizations?
- What inspires a one-time donor to give again (and again)?
- What exactly do nonprofit donors need to hear (or not)?
- Why are there currently $150 billion in donor advised funds that are not going to individual charities?
Resources
- Philanthropy Revolution
- Fear of Asking for Money
- Philanthropy is Sexy
- How to Make Your Donors Feel Like a Million Bucks
- Why Donors Who Know More, Do More
- 5 Ways to Expand Your Pool of Donors and Volunteers
- Joan Garry’s Guide to Nonprofit Leadership – 2nd Edition by Joan Garry
- Free Webinar: The 5 Practices of Outstanding Nonprofit Leaders
- Your Nonprofit Life Podcast
- Joan Garry’s Instagram
- Explore the Nonprofit Leadership Lab
- Music by Jukebox the Ghost
- Voiceover Work by Cindy Cap Solutions
Contact Lisa
About Lisa Greer
Lisa Zola Greer is a philanthropist, entrepreneur, convener and the author of Philanthropy Revolution. Over the last decade, the Greer home in Beverly Hills has been home to nearly 200 charitable salons and events connecting nonprofits with donors and the community.
In 2020, Lisa was appointed by the Speaker of the California State Assembly, Anthony Rendon, as a commissioner of the California State Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.
In addition, Lisa sits on the board of the New Israel Fund and serves on the Executive Committee of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors. She has also served as Commissioner and Chair of the Beverly Hills Cultural Heritage Commission and Trustee of the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles, and as a board member of many organizations, including the L.A. District Attorney’s Crime Prevention Foundation, Make-a-Wish of Greater Los Angeles, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles, and others.
Earlier in her career, Lisa was a studio executive at NBC and Universal Studios, and she founded and led several companies, including a management consulting and strategic advisory firm specializing in digital media and entertainment businesses.