Nifty Fifty Fridays

50 Reasons Donors Leave an Organization

Not all donors will stay with your organization forever.  Here’s a list of 50 things that could drive a donor to leave your organization.  Some of these you have control over (focus on those!) and some of these are out of your control (but you should know what they are!).  To learn more ways to keep your donors giving generously year-over-year, come to the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference!

1. Lack of Communication: Not engaging donors with updates or progress reports.

2. Negative Experience: An unpleasant interaction or bad experience with your organization.

3. Feeling Unappreciated: Donors want to feel valued and acknowledged for their contributions.

4. Frequent Staff Turnover: This can affect relationships with donors, who often build bonds with particular staff members.

5. Inadequate Stewardship: Poor management of the resources provided by donors.

6. Not Seeing Impact: If donors don’t see the direct impact of their donations, they may feel disillusioned.

7. Lack of Transparency: A lack of clear information about how funds are used.

8. Changing Financial Situation: Changes in a donor's personal financial circumstances may mean they can't continue to donate.

9. Not Engaging the Donor: Failing to involve the donor in the organization or its mission.

10. Not Aligning with Donor Values: A shift in your organization's focus that doesn't align with a donor's interests or values.

11. Ineffective Communication: Communicating too infrequently, too often, or not in a way that appeals to the donor.

12. No Personal Connection: If the donor doesn't feel personally connected to the cause, they may lose interest.

13. Bad News or Scandal: Negative publicity surrounding your organization can deter donors.

14. Insufficient Tax Benefits: Changes in tax laws or benefits can affect donor contributions.

15. Lack of Recognition: Not acknowledging or celebrating a donor's contribution.

16. Failing to Meet Donor Expectations: Not delivering on promises or meeting the expectations set out when the donation was made.

17. Poor Reporting: Not providing clear, concise, and accurate reports of the impact of their donation.

18. Donor's Changing Interests: The donor's interest might shift to another cause or organization.

19. Lack of Trust: Any action that causes a donor to lose trust in your organization.

20. Poor Customer Service: Poor experiences with staff or volunteers can push donors away.

21. No Sense of Community: If donors do not feel a part of your organization's community, they may not feel compelled to continue supporting.

22. Lack of Personalized Communication: Treating donors like numbers rather than individuals.

23. Nonresponsive to Donor Needs: Failing to address the concerns or needs of a donor.

24. Not Asking for Input or Feedback: Not involving donors in decision-making or seeking their opinions.

25. Failing to Inspire: Failing to inspire donors with the work your organization does.

26. Donor Reaches Their Giving Goals: Some donors set personal goals for giving, and may move on when those are met.

27. Inefficient Use of Funds: Wasteful spending or lack of efficiency can deter donors.

28. Inadequate Response to Donor Concerns: Not addressing donor concerns or complaints promptly and professionally.

29. Not Keeping Donors Informed: Failing to keep donors updated on organizational changes and projects.

30. Changes in Mission or Vision: Major changes in your organization's mission or vision can lead to loss of donors.

31. Lack of Connection with Organization's Leadership: Donors may want to feel connected to the organization's leadership.

32. Increased Competition: More nonprofits vying for the same donor dollars.

33. Lack of Engagement Opportunities: If donors don't have opportunities to get involved beyond giving money, they may lose interest.

34. Change in Personal Beliefs or Values: As donors evolve, their alignment with your cause might change.

35. No Opportunities for Growth: Some donors want the opportunity to increase their support over time.

36. Failure to Adapt: If your organization doesn't evolve and adapt, it may lose relevance for donors.

37. Lack of Donor-Centric Approach: If you focus too much on your organization and not enough on your donors' needs and interests.

38. Inconsistent Messaging: Consistent communication about your mission and impact is important.

39. Poor Donation Experience: Difficulties with the process of donating can turn donors away.

40. Not Offering Diverse Ways to Give: If you only accept one type of donation (like cash), you may lose donors who prefer to give in other ways (like stocks or volunteer time).

41. Not Matching the Donor's Passion: If your projects or initiatives don't align with what the donor is passionate about, they may choose to support a different cause.

42. Not Explaining the Need for Support: Failing to clearly communicate why donations are vital for your organization.

43. Not Updating Donors on Organizational Achievements: Donors want to see how their contributions have helped the organization succeed.

44. Changing Leadership: A change in key leadership roles can cause some donors to reconsider their support.

45. Misunderstanding the Donor's Intent: If the organization uses a gift in a way the donor didn't intend or agree with.

46. Not Providing Opportunities for Recurring Donations: Some donors prefer the convenience of automated recurring donations.

47. Ignoring Donor Feedback: If donors feel their feedback or suggestions are ignored, they may feel unappreciated.

48. Not Demonstrating the Urgency of the Need: Donors need to understand why their support is needed now.

49. Insufficient Donor Privacy: Failing to respect and protect a donor's privacy can quickly lead to lost support.

50. Nonprofit Doesn’t Fit into Donor's Long-Term Plan: Over time, donors may shift their giving to align with their long-term philanthropic goals.