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WHY CHARITIES ARE GUILTY OF A BIG BLUNDER AND HOW THEY CAN LEARN FROM ANOTHER BUSINESS

Written by: Billy Sharma

Article Overview: What a charity needs to do.

WHY CHARITIES ARE GUILTY OF A BIG BLUNDER AND HOW THEY CAN LEARN FROM ANOTHER BUSINESS

YES! Most charities are guilty of a very serious blunder. Many only talk to their donors when they need money.

Imagine if the only time you spoke to your neighbor was when you needed to borrow sugar or a lawn mower. How often would they continue to talk to you or consider you a friend with this kind of behavior?

Here is a helpful tip from another industry.
The Car industry: New car buyers are usually sent a follow-up mailing soon after they buy a car in the form of a survey to determine customer satisfaction or concerns.

This extra effort goes a long way to retaining customers.

Now consider this. Many non-profit organizations constantly send their donor's newsletters and emails filled with the charity's accomplishments and inside stories.

Why not use this powerful medium by including a survey to hear from your donors more often. I did this sometime ago for a small charity with great results. Donors welcomed the chance to air their opinions and give advice.

It is important to stay in touch with your donors and more important to make sure that their concerns and voices are heard from time-to-time.

You could even include a survey along with the tax receipt, when acknowledging their donations. It costs very little, a printed page and a BRE but you involve them right from the start. Most probably you will learn something more about them and perhaps build an important bond too.

There is an old saying that, "a friend and a business only goes where it is invited with open arms and on equal terms".

Think about it.

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