Happy Sunday and welcome to the very first issue of The Fuel Tank, brought to you by Philanthropy Fuel.

If you’re looking for a downloadable playbook, templates to solve all your problems, guaranteed methodologies…you’re in the wrong place.

If you’re up for a weekly dose of common sense, real talk, issue/solution discussion topped off with some motivation, inspiration, recognition and energy…stick around for the ride!

Today we dive into donor fatigue. It’s REAL.

Did you know?

So that explains why I find myself dumping daily unopened donation pleas into the trash - in my kitchen and in my email system. And why I never, ever pick up my phone if I don’t recognize the number.

If I’m feeling it, you know your donor base is as well. Even though they’ve given to your cause before, they are buried. And, you, as a fundraiser, are likely pulling your hair out over how to better connect with these people who have been supporters in the past but are hiding from you in plain sight in the present.

Truth is, your donors are not tired of outreach. They’re tired of superficial outreach.

There are ways to overcome this. Let’s explore below and get you all energized as we head into a new week.

The Challenge Draining Your Nonprofit’s Engine

Have you noticed a decline in engagement from your once enthusiastic donor base? Donor fatigue is like a leak in your fuel tank—slowly draining the energy from your fundraising efforts, often without immediate notice until the gauge hits empty.

We could have a long debate on what’s caused donor fatigue - poor fundraising strategies or outside forces, but if you’re having donor retention issues, recurring donor decline or your planned giving efforts are going unheeded, you know something needs to change.

How it Might Break Down if Not Addressed

You probably don’t need me to spell this one out. Ignoring signs of donor fatigue can lead to a critical failure in your fundraising engine. Picture this: your most reliable donors start cutting their usual contributions, not out of spite, but sheer exhaustion from constant asks. This is not just a dip in funds; it's a potential blow to your core operations, leaving you scrambling in the face of financial goals.

And in the current paradigm where the bulk of funding is coming from fewer and fewer donors, the risk of fatigue and shut down takes on a much bigger urgency.

Igniting Some Ideas to Rev it Up

How you address this is, of course, going to depend on your mission, your donor profile and your past efforts. But no matter what, it’s clear that if you’re being impacted by donor fatigue, you HAVE to change things up, and sooner rather than later. Here’s some ideas to light a spark:

1. Refresh Your Messaging: Shift the focus from constant asks to meaningful updates. Let your donors see the impact of their contributions through vivid stories and updates. Immerse them in the cause and your solutions.

2. Diversify Your Approach: Introduce new fundraising campaigns that involve minimal donor effort but maintain engagement, like passive fundraising through affiliate programs. Consider approaches that don’t ask for money, but instead ask your supporters to spread the word, through their social media or other methods. In other words, get creative and make it ridiculously easy for them to support your mission on an ongoing basis.

3. Personal Recognition: Make it a point to recognize repeat donors in new, personal ways that rekindle their commitment to your cause. People want to be part of something, especially something that can change the world (or at least their world). And in the era of social media, many enjoy the recognition that comes with that and the personal satisfaction of being seen and heard.

Energizing Fundraising & Development Pros

A hidden benefit of igniting new programs and approaches? You spark the energy of the fundraising and development team who have been plagued with pressure from above, the stress of being ignored and ghosted and a sinking feeling that things will keep getting worse.

Think about the adrenaline rush of shifting gears from reactive to proactive, from pushing to partnering and from exhausting donors to exciting them.

And then the exponential impact starts to kick in. Motivated fundraisers have the ability to spur a movement among your supporters. If they buy into the vision, that will come bursting out in every interaction. And if they’re sticking around for the long haul, your donors will feed off that and stick around too.

It’s Gonna Be OK - Here’s Proof

Converting Energy Into Action

Now it’s up to you! How do you take relevant action to light a fire under your donor base? Don’t try to boil the ocean. Take a hard, introspective look at what’s working and what’s not. Pick an item or two from the following list and try it out. Then measure, get feedback, iterate…and rinse and repeat until not just the numbers start to trend in your favor, but the energy starts to flow around your mission, both internally and externally.

• Segment and Personalize: Categorize donors by interests and past contributions, tailoring communications to match their preferences and history.

• Introduce Passive Fundraising: Launch an affiliate program where shopping through specific links generates donations at no extra cost to your supporters. Promote this across all your digital platforms.

• Creative Donor Recognition: Start a 'Donor of the Month' feature, highlighting individual stories and impacts through your newsletters and social media.

• Engage with Low-pressure Events: Organize informal virtual events, such as project Q&As or behind-the-scenes tours, to keep donors connected without direct fundraising asks.

• Gather and Act on Feedback: Distribute a brief survey to understand donor satisfaction and areas for improvement, showing them that their opinions help shape your efforts.

This Week’s White Hot Spotlight

Headquarters: Indianapolis, Indiana

Summary: Damar Services supports children and adults with developmental and behavioral challenges, offering a range of services including residential treatment, outpatient therapy, and community-based services.

What Makes Them Different: Damar’s holistic approach focuses not just on the individual but also on their family and community, aiming for full integration and support.

Mission: To build better futures for children and adults facing life's greatest developmental and behavioral challenges.

Storytelling: Dreams Come True: Matthew Hanes, a student at Damar Academy, has worked tirelessly to overcome behavioral issues related to his autism. His progress at Damar has been remarkable, with significant improvements in academics and communication skills. On September 9th, thanks to a partnership between Damar and the Indianapolis Colts, Matthew realized a lifelong dream by walking onto the field at Lucas Oil Stadium before a Colts game. This special honor was a testament to his hard work and perseverance, showcasing the profound impact Damar Services has on the lives of those they support.

I hope this first issue was packed with value, insight, motivation and a little bit of fun. Extra points if there’s something in here that will help you be more successful in the critically important work that each of you do on a daily basis.

I’d love to get some feedback - positive, negative or anything in between. I’m dedicated to making The Fuel Tank a resource for all of those helping others and fighting for causes, so let me know what works and what could be improved.

You can shoot me an email or a DM on LinkedIn.

For more information on Philanthropy Fuel and the workshops I offer, visit my website below.

And follow me on LinkedIn for more fundraising and development content.

Thank you for reading, and here’s to moving the gauge from empty to full!

Dan