Tips For Successful Crowdfunding Campaigns

Campaigns get so much attention in fundraising, rightfully so. However, many of us fail to understand that rather than a curtain call, campaigns should end with a critical handoff that provides our organizations with an incredible opportunity for follow-up that inspires donors and their giving for years beyond the campaign. As soon as a campaign is complete, the window to thank donors in meaningful ways, share the first signs of impact, and ensure the new connections sparked during the campaign carry forward into the next chapter, begins to close. Across our Innovation Partners, it’s incredible how many organizations seize this exact moment with a natural handoff to a Virtual Engagement Officer. We’ve all seen participation suffer during campaigns as we focus on larger dollar giving. That’s exactly why so many Innovation Partners are bringing in Virtual Engagement Officers (VEOs) to recapture lapsed donors. Other Innovation Partners saw major momentum from their campaigns and an influx of donors. These partners are developing new portfolios for their VEOs to focus on retention, sharing impact, and building relationships in ways that lead to the natural outcome of giving. For example, Baylor University's unexpected surge in millennial giving during its recent campaign inspired a new focus for the Virtual Engagement Officer—keeping these donors engaged and building lasting connections that will shape the future major gift pipeline. Meanwhile, as Western Carolina closes its campaign, traditional frontline fundraising staff are focused on dollars in the door. Meanwhile, the VEO is actively widening the overall circle for future growth by rebuilding participation, increasing donor counts, and keeping the new donors close with stewardship and cultivation. The University of Oklahoma Foundation’s VEO is already looking ahead, organizing the new interest the campaign unlocked and aligning prospects to the right portfolios so the next chapter starts with a ready-made pipeline. Each of these teams shows us that trusted digital labor in the form of Autonomous Fundraising represents an opportunity that wasn’t available just a year ago. With Autonomous Fundraising, campaign completion is truly the handoff, not the curtain call. Virtual Engagement Officers empower us to deepen support from these new and re-engaged donors, preparing us for the inevitable next campaign before this one even closes.

Before it was about getting donors to write checks. Now it’s about involving them in your ecosystem. Here’s 5 steps to get started today: You’re not just fundraising anymore. You’re onboarding stakeholders. If you want repeatable, compounding revenue from donors, partners, and decision-makers, you need to stop treating them like check-writers… …and start treating them like collaborators in a living system. Here’s how. 1. Diagnose your “center of gravity” Most orgs center fundraising around the mission. But the real gravitational pull for donors is their identity. → Ask yourself: What is the identity we help our funders step into? Examples: Systems Disruptor. Local Hero. Climate Investor. Opportunity Builder. Build messaging, experiences, and invites around that identity, not just impact stats. 2. Turn every program into a flywheel for new capital Stop separating “program delivery” from “fundraising.” Your programs are your best sales engine → Examples: • Invite donors to shadow frontline staff for one hour • Allow funders to sponsor a real-time decision and see the outcome • Let supporters “unlock” bonus services for beneficiaries through engagement, not just cash People fund what they help shape. 3. Use feedback as a funding mechanism Most orgs treat surveys as box-checking. But used right, feedback is fundraising foreplay. → Ask donors and partners to co-define what “success” looks like before you report back. Then build dashboards, stories, and events around their metrics. You didn’t just show impact. You made them part of the operating model. 4. Make your “thank you” do heavy lifting Thanking donors isn’t the end of a transaction. It’s the first trust test for future collaboration. → Instead of a generic “thank you,” send: • A 1-minute voice memo with a specific insight you gained from their gift • A sneak peek at a challenge you’re tackling and ask for their perspective • A micro-invite: “Can I get your eyes on something next week?” You’re not closing a loop. You’re opening a door. 5. Build a “Donor OS” (Operating System) Every funder should have a journey, not just a transaction history. → Track things like: • What insight made them first say “I’m in”? • Who do they influence (and who influences them)? • What kind of risk are they comfortable taking? • What internal narrative did your mission fulfill for them? Then tailor comms, invitations, and roles accordingly. Not everyone needs another newsletter but someone does want a seat at the strategy table. With purpose and impact, Mario

Retention isn’t just about what you say. It’s about when you say it. At Engage USA, we studied 126,000 first-time donors. The pattern was clear: Speed matters. Donors who were thanked and re-engaged within 19 days were nearly twice as likely to give again compared to those who waited 38 days or more. And here’s the bonus: They didn’t just give more often. They gave more per gift. Yes, spersonalization and messaging matter. But when follow-up is slow, even the perfect message can fall flat. If you're trying to improve retention and lifetime value, start here: 1. Acknowledge gifts—fast.   Send electronic thank-yous within hours.   Get print letters moving while the emotion is still fresh.     2. Track every signal—not just gifts.   Survey replies. Petition signatures. Notes on reply slips.   These are signs of connection. Use them to find your most committed donors.     3. Treat response as strategy—not admin.   Gift processing is a donor experience moment.     And don’t let your systems hold you back. Too many nonprofits wait days, weeks—even months—to thank their donors and reengage with them.  By the time they act, the moment’s gone. Work with partners who give you same-day data—so you can respond while it still matters. Speed builds trust. Trust builds revenue. #Fundraising #DonorRetention #NonprofitLeadership #DirectMail #EngageUSA #ResponseTime #FundraisingTips #DonorExperience #DataDrivenStrategy #NonprofitGrowth #DonorEngagement

Your case for support is boring. Not because your mission isn't important. Because you're writing for committees, not humans. Here's what every case statement includes: ⦿ History of the organization ⦿ Impressive statistics ⦿ List of programs ⦿ Credentials and awards ⦿ How funds will be used Here's what donors actually want: ⦿ What changes if I say yes? ⦿ What breaks if I say no? ⦿ Why me, why now? ⦿ Who else believes in this? ⦿ What happens after I give? The case statement that raises money reads like a invitation to adventure, not an annual report. Try this instead: 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 Paint the world you're building, not the history you're preserving. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 Use "you" more than "we." They're the hero, not you. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 Opportunity expires, not hope. FOMO beats obligation every time. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 Winners attract investment. Losers attract pity. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 They're not buying services. They're building legacy. One client rewrote their case. Removed every committee word. Told one powerful story instead. Their campaign goal? Exceeded by 40%. Your case for support shouldn't sound professional. It should sound unstoppable. When did you last read yours out loud?

That sinking feeling I had when I realized I forgot to post this morning? Your donors feel it every day. You send a thank-you letter, then disappear for months. You promise impact updates, then go silent. You ask for engagement, then never respond. The organizations losing donors aren't victims of donor fatigue. They're victims of their own neglect. Your donors aren't leaving because they don't care anymore. They're leaving because you made them feel forgotten. Pull up your donor communications calendar right now. Count the gaps between touch points. If any donor goes more than 30 days without hearing from you, you've found your retention problem. The organizations with 70%+ retention rates aren't just thanking better. They're connecting consistently. They acknowledge gifts within 48 hours, not weeks. They share specific impact within 30 days, not quarters. They respond to inquiries within one business day, not when convenient. They treat every donor touch point as essential, not optional. Your donors aren't leaving because of the economy, competing priorities, or changing interests. They're leaving because you let them forget why they cared in the first place. Fix your communication gaps before you blame donor fatigue. Because in fundraising, what you forget could cost more than what you remember.

Donor retention: it's the holy grail of fundraising. But how do we keep donors coming back year after year? The secret lies in effective stewardship. Here's a simple 3-step process to supercharge your donor retention through strategic stewardship: 1. Personalize Your Gratitude Don't just send a generic thank-you letter. Reference the donor's specific gift, its impact, and their giving history. Make them feel truly seen and appreciated. 2. Report on Impact Show donors exactly how their gift is making a difference. Use stories, photos, and concrete metrics to bring their impact to life. Make it easy for them to see the value of their continued support. 3. Engage Beyond the Ask Create touchpoints that aren't about solicitation. Share updates, invite them to events, or ask for their input. Build a relationship that goes beyond the transactional. Remember, effective stewardship isn't just about retaining donors – it's about transforming them into passionate advocates for your cause. Who's the best stewardship specialist you know? Tag a colleague who excels at donor care and retention. Let's celebrate the unsung heroes who keep our donors coming back!

The most successful fundraisers know this truth: donor retention is more valuable than acquisition. Here are 3 engagement strategies that transformed our donor relationships: 1. Personalized impact reports - Show exactly how their gift made a difference with specific stories and metrics 2. Non-financial engagement opportunities - Invite donors to volunteer, attend events, or provide expertise before asking for another gift 3. Surprise gratitude moments - Send unexpected thank you videos or handwritten notes on non-anniversary dates The donors who feel most connected to your mission are the ones who stay committed for the long haul. What's your most effective donor engagement strategy? Share in the comments!

Testimonial requests tend to sound like homework. “Would you mind filling out a quick review form?” “Could you write a few lines about your experience?” As Abe Lincoln once said - ain't nobody got time for that. Not when they’re drowning in QBR decks and budget asks. But here’s the good news: You’re ALREADY getting testimonials. You’re just not capturing them. How? Well, your best reviews happen mid-sentence...not in post-call surveys. Every week, your customers are saying: - “This saved us so much time.” - “I had no idea we could do that.” - “You’ve made my job way easier.” THAT'S your testimonial. Don’t ask for it later. Double back immediately. “Loved that feedback - any chance I can turn that into a short quote for our team? I’ll write it up for you to approve.” The answer is usually yes. Here’s a 3-part system CSMs can use: 1. Use Sybill to identify key praise moments. Tag the call. Clip the quote. Make it easy for marketing to use. Bonus points if it aligns to a launch, feature, or persona. 2. Send the follow-up within 24 hours. Keep it short: “Hey Samantha - loved what you said on today’s call. I drafted a quick version below. Let me know if you’re cool with it or want to tweak anything.” Now it’s opt-in. You removed homework from the equation. 3. Tie review asks to key milestones. Don’t wait until EBRs. Ask after: - a successful onboarding. - a new feature rollout. - a strong support save. - a surprise ROI win. All you're doing is reinforcing momentum. tl;dr = testimonial collection isn’t so much of a marketing play as it is a CS system. If your team’s sitting on dozens of glowing comments each month, but none of them make it into your website, your decks, or your content, you simply need to do a better job of capturing what's already coming your way. Fix that and the next case study writes itself.

The secret to powerful testimonials? 👇 Understanding the 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁'𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆! To truly master the art of testimonials, you must: ↳ 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 to demonstrate clear before-and-after scenarios. ↳ Dive into the 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 to make the impact more relatable. ↳ Highlight 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 that set your service apart. [Check out the infographic for more details!] 1. What was your initial problem? ↳ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝗸: Sets the stage for the testimonial by identifying the challenge faced. ↳ 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Encourage detailed descriptions to underline the value of your solution. 2. How did the frustration feel? ↳ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝗸: Emphasizes the emotional relief your service provided. ↳ 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Prompt for vivid emotional details to paint a clearer before and after picture. 3. What makes our service unique? ↳ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝗸: Distinguishes your service from others and highlights special features. ↳ 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Guide clients to mention specific aspects that they found most beneficial. 4. When did you notice our service worked? ↳ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝗸: Captures the 'aha' moment of your service’s effectiveness. ↳ 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Ask for a specific instance or turning point to make the story compelling. 5. How is your life better now? ↳ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝗸: Shows the practical and lasting benefits of your service. ↳ 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Request both tangible and intangible examples of improvements. 6. How do you feel about your business now? ↳ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝗸: Reflects the transformation in their business and mindset. ↳ 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Encourage comparison to their state before using your service for greater impact. 7. What would you tell a friend about us? ↳ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝗸: Elicits a natural and genuine endorsement. ↳ 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Suggest framing their response as if they were having a casual conversation. Go beyond surface-level praise! 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 of transformation and satisfaction. What strategies have you found most effective for gathering testimonials? #cocreate #marketing #entrepreneurship #business #digitalmarketing #innovation #strategy _____ Found this helpful? Help others by sharing it 📤. Follow me Marco Franzoni for similar insights!

If you're not consistently adding value between asks, your supporters forget why they cared about your mission in the first place. What "adding value" actually looks like:  ✅ Stories from the field that show impact ✅ Behind-the-scenes updates that build connection ✅ Genuine thank you messages (not just receipts!) ✅ Educational content related to your cause ✅ Volunteer spotlights and community wins The magic ratio: For every 1 fundraising email, send 3-4 value-driven messages. When you go dark between campaigns, you're essentially asking strangers for money. But when you nurture relationships consistently, you're asking friends who already believe in your work. The result? • Higher open rates when you DO ask • Increased donor retention • More engaged supporters who become advocates • Sustainable fundraising that doesn't feel pushy Remember: People don't donate to organizations they've forgotten about. Your email list isn't just a fundraising tool - it's your community. Treat it like one. Rant over.