Be your donor, if you dare

Here's a terrific idea from Katya's Nonprofit Marketing Blog: "Be your donor" day.

The idea: Find out first-hand what it's like to be a donor to your organization. You might be surprised. What you believe is happening could be a long way from what's actually happening. Here are some of Katya's suggestions:

• Call your switchboard and see what happens when you ask for help or information
  
• Send an email to your nonprofit’s donor services department . . . and see if you get a cordial response
  
• See how many seconds it takes . . . to find out to donate on your web site
  
• Donate to your own organization so you see how your thank-yous arrive . . .
  

How does it feel?

Here are two more you might try:

• Try to find your organization by Googling words related to your cause. Can someone who cares about your issues -- but doesn't know who you are -- find you?
  
• Empty your mind of all prior knowledge (not easy; studying your 990s might help) and read your direct mail or other marketing. Does it make sense, or are you using insider jargon. Is it human, or formulaic?
  

Technorati Tag: fundraising

Comments

[a fundraiser]

I could not agree more that nonprofit fundraisers need to test all aspects of their program from the donor's perspective. On more than one occasion I've discussed that our acknowledgement process was painfully slow.

But what I don't understand is why someone would need to "pretend" to be donor.

If you are a fundraiser and not a donor... what does that mean? What are the possible excuses you give? You can't afford it? You don't think the money is well spent? You think you can get away being a "free rider"?

There is no excuse. But on the bright side... if you can figure out WHY exactly you aren't a donor - it would probably make you a much better fundraiser.