Managing online and offline donor experiences | Dreamscape Solutions
03/05/21

How to create cohesion for online and offline donors

While new donors opt to support charities online, you need to consider the difference between your online and offline fundraising efforts.

Unifying donors that give in different ways isn’t always easy. More often than not, they’re usually separate audiences with different needs.

However, whilst you should be tailoring individual donor communications, you should also try to bring your online and offline strategies together.

But how can you do that and make the process as smooth as possible for both online and offline donors?

Create One Strategy

You may be surprised to hear this, but you don’t need to create two separate strategies for your online and offline donors. Although their giving needs differ, they prefer to receive communication from you in different ways.

Creating one overarching fundraising and marketing strategy is the best way to see growth in both areas. Your strategy must include in-person fundraising events and networking with various digital marketing techniques.

Charities need to offer their donors as many options as possible to generate a successful campaign strategy. If you provide supporters with various ways to help, they’re more likely to.

Integrate & Store all Communications in One Place

Having a central hub that stores all the information on your donors, their behaviour and your communication with them cannot be underestimated. There’s nothing more frustrating for a donor than having contact they don’t want or when it’s in the wrong format.

That’s why integrating your charity’s website with its CMS is the best way to merge donor data and create a streamlined process that works for donors and the charity to communicate effectively. It also will give a 360-degree view of your donors; you’ll be able to see how online donors behave and offline supporters' patterns.

Experience Management

At any point, your team can view your last communication with them, whether it was direct mail, an event sign-up via the website or a donation at an in-person fundraising event.

It allows you to understand better what your donors are doing and how they prefer to support your charity’s mission. Implementing automation is the best way to empower fundraisers and marketers to manage donor experiences and journeys effectively.

Creating cohesion for donors is important; it’s not about transitioning all your offline supporters online. It’s about ensuring your team and your donors are treated the same and can access every option available. The fundraising landscape is changing, some donors are online givers, and some prefer giving more traditionally.

Charities and non-profits must start treating donors the same and giving them options. Doing so will enable them to choose their way to help and create their tailored donor journey.

Want to know more about creating a donor journey that is tailored to your supporters? Get in touch today by calling the team on 01925 755960 or email us at hello@dreamscape.solutions