What are some best practices for building long-term relationships with your donors and supporters?

2 Communicate regularly and authentically

Communication is key to building long-term relationships with your donors and supporters. You want to keep them informed, inspired, and involved in your community organizing work. You can use various channels, such as email, phone, text, social media, or newsletters, to share updates, stories, achievements, challenges, and opportunities. You also want to communicate authentically and transparently, showing your personality, values, and vision, and acknowledging your mistakes and learnings. Don't be afraid to show your emotions, humor, and gratitude, and invite your supporters to share theirs.

3 Provide value and recognition

Your donors and supporters are not just sources of funds or resources, they are partners in your community organizing mission. You want to provide them with value and recognition, so they feel appreciated and invested in your cause. You can offer them exclusive access, information, education, or opportunities related to your work, such as webinars, reports, events, or trainings. You can also recognize their contributions, such as by sending thank-you notes, certificates, gifts, or shout-outs on your website or social media. You can also showcase their stories, testimonials, or feedback, and highlight how they make a difference.

4 Solicit and act on feedback

One of the best ways to build long-term relationships with your donors and supporters is to solicit and act on their feedback. You want to show them that you value their input and suggestions, and that you are willing to improve and adapt your community organizing work based on their needs and expectations. You can use surveys, polls, interviews, or focus groups to ask for feedback on your programs, campaigns, communications, or services. You can also create a feedback loop, where you acknowledge, analyze, and respond to the feedback, and implement changes or improvements accordingly.

5 Engage and mobilize

Another best practice for building long-term relationships with your donors and supporters is to engage and mobilize them in your community organizing work. You want to create a sense of community, belonging, and empowerment among your supporters, so they feel connected and committed to your cause. You can engage and mobilize them by inviting them to participate in your events, activities, or actions, such as rallies, meetings, petitions, or canvassing. You can also encourage them to share your messages, stories, or campaigns with their networks, friends, or family. You can also create opportunities for them to interact with each other, such as by hosting online forums, chats, or groups.

6 Evaluate and celebrate

The final best practice for building long-term relationships with your donors and supporters is to evaluate and celebrate your community organizing work. You want to measure and demonstrate the impact and outcomes of your work, and show your supporters how their donations or support make a difference. You can use data, metrics, indicators, or reports to track and evaluate your progress, achievements, challenges, and learnings. You can also celebrate your successes and milestones with your supporters, such as by hosting appreciation events, parties, or awards. You can also share your vision, goals, and plans for the future, and invite your supporters to join you in your journey.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?