I worry about how rewards in this context shifts our values, and how this could be counter-productive, undermining the donors and volunteers intrinsic motivation to contribute.
Say you have no idea how to do this and ask supporters to contact you to help you realize your goals
The key question seems to be: how do you persuade volunteers and donors to continue to give you their time and money?
They would be thank you messages (Oxfam does this). Fun and insightful inside stories to the organization (like Reclaim on Twitter). Profile of volunteers and what they get out of being involved (Samaritans do a great job of this). Updates on success stories and research that backs up the NGOs work (like Restorative Circles sharing that they were identified by the NESTA thinktank as being ‘radically efficient’). Revelations of mistakes made and what you’ve learned (GiveWell lead the field on this). Share any resources that would help other NGOs – and ask people to share them out (Acumen Fund totally rock at this).
He revealed that you had signed up to support us and then asked us all to gather round to gaze into the Oracle Orb. A hush fell on the circle.
We saw a rapid-fire montage of all the incredible things that came from your support. What’s more, we were blown away by how happy and fulfilled this made you.
Ask your biggest donor to make their donation a matching donation pledge – for every dollar someone else gives, they will match it dollar for dollar up to how much he was initially planning to give.
Donors love it when they are told that their money goes twice as far (Tim Ferris does this successfully when he gives away money)
And lastly, ask for help to achieve amazing, fantastic goals. Say you have this huge goal that you want to achieve but you have no idea how to do it and just put it out there asking people to help you.
For example, you could email that you want a 1:1 meeting with the governor of your state to ask them for some support. [Dude Perfect have done this to great effect – managing, amongst other things country dating app, getting to play basketball with the President Barak Obama.]
If you contacted with with more specific information about who these NGOs wanted to build a rapport with and what they want to achieve I could offer more tailored suggestions.
Hi Derek, I greatly appreciated this article. I will be referring it to several friends and business associates. I work with (and volunteer and/or donate) to a number of charities, churches and Not-for-Profits and NGO’s (non-governmental organizations providing food, education, medicine, medical care & dental care, etc.) Although some of them have a few items, products or services for sale, most don’t have anything to sell or earn revenue from. How would you and/or your readers design and implement a loyalty program that works for their donors, volunteers, staff, board members, advisory council and the like? Also, what would you do to attract new supports, donors and/or volunteers? Does anyone have direct experience with a successful program that they would be willing to share? I would enjoy talking to you and learning what works and what doesn’t. I look forward to any and all feedback! Cheers, Alan Wilson
Derek I just got lunch from the Quickfire Japanese Hibachi Grill and they have a loyalty program that applies what you covered in this blog post. When I paid the cashier asked me if I love to earn a free dish an then she gave me a stamp card and stamped two points for me even though this is mu first time here, now I have to come here 3 more times to get a free dish. Impressive, I recognized it because I read your post. If only she took my email address!
