Nifty Fifty Fridays

50 Ways Nonprofits can Build Trust with Donors

Building trust with donors is a cornerstone of successful and sustainable nonprofit fundraising. Here's a list of 50 ways for a nonprofit to cultivate that trust.  Each of these trust building steps are powerful ways to steward your donors (major or otherwise).  And if you want to take a deeper dive into donor stewardship come to the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference!

1. Transparent Reporting: Regularly share financial reports and updates.

2. Impact Stories: Share stories of the real-life impact of donations.

3. Engage Personally: Personalize all communications with donors.

4. Open Door Policy: Allow donors to visit and see your operations firsthand.

5. Acknowledge Mistakes: If errors are made, admit, apologize, and rectify.

6. Timely Communication: Always respond to donor queries promptly.

7. Donor Surveys: Ask for feedback and act on it.

8. Use Donations as Promised: Always utilize funds as advertised.

9. Testimonials: Share experiences from those directly impacted by the nonprofit.

10. Regular Updates: Consistently update donors on project progress.

11. Third-party Evaluations: Share audits or evaluations from external agencies.

12. Personal Thank You's: Send handwritten thank you notes.

13. Donor Recognition: Recognize donors in publications (with their consent).

14. Feedback Loop: Show donors how their feedback was implemented.

15. Peer Reviews: Share positive feedback from other reputable nonprofits or experts.

16. Workshops & Webinars: Offer informational sessions about your nonprofit's work.

17. Consistent Branding: Ensure all materials reflect your nonprofit’s image and values.

18. Celebrity or Expert Endorsements: Gain endorsements from respected figures.

19. Open Forums: Host Q&A sessions with donors.

20. Volunteer Opportunities: Let donors see and engage in the work firsthand.

21. Detailed Budgets: Share where every dollar goes.

22. Collaborate with Respected Orgs: Partner with reputable organizations or businesses.

23. Active Advisory Board: Show that decisions are made with diverse, expert input.

24. Confidentiality: Protect and never misuse donor personal information.

25. Host Events: Allow donors to interact with your team and beneficiaries.

26. Honest Metrics: Share both successes and areas needing improvement.

27. Engage on Social Media: Share real-time updates and engage with donors online.

28. Educational Content: Provide content that educates about your cause and methods.

29. Focus Groups: Occasionally gather donors to gain insights and suggestions.

30. Answer Tough Questions: Don’t shy away from addressing concerns head-on.

31. Training and Development: Show donors that staff is continually learning and improving.

32. Show Long-term Commitment: Highlight past achievements and consistency.

33. Effective Governance: Ensure a capable board oversees the nonprofit.

34. Acknowledge Donor Anniversaries: Celebrate long-standing supporters.

35. Organizational Culture: Promote a culture of integrity and transparency.

36. Newsletters: Share regular, honest updates through newsletters.

37. Highlight Checks & Balances: Show measures in place to prevent misuse of funds.

38. Meet in Person: When possible, have face-to-face interactions.

39. Show Growth and Learning: Share how the organization evolves based on experiences.

40. Accreditations: Secure and display ratings or certifications from oversight agencies.

41. Use Constructive Criticism: Show that you value and act upon constructive feedback.

42. Share Challenges: Be open about challenges faced and how they're addressed.

43. Beneficiary Involvement: Involve those you serve in communications.

44. Respect Donor Intent: If donors specify fund use, always adhere to their wishes.

45. Diversify Income: Demonstrate financial sustainability by not relying on just one income source.

46. Video Updates: Use video to provide authentic updates and stories.

47. Community Involvement: Engage and be visible in the local community.

48. Regular Check-ins: Casual updates or calls, just to maintain the connection.

49. Provide References: Offer testimonials from other donors.

50. Financial Stability: Demonstrate good financial health and reserves.