Have you ever sat down to draft an annual fundraising campaign letter only to realize the words just won’t seem to materialize on the page? Has writer’s block ever stymied your efforts to craft the perfect request for support of a special project? Do you sometimes struggle to translate a passion for your museum into a compelling message? If you answered yes to any of the above, this presentation is for you! Learn from a panel of professionals representing museums of all sizes, and take away tips for engaging donors.
2. Start with the Basics
• Correct spelling of names
• Correct addressee and salutation
• Correct addresses
• Correct gifts
• Correct memberships
• Correct preferences
• These components have to be PERFECT.
3. Layer on More Information
• Events
• Volunteer activities
• Public programs participation
• Interests (based on interactions, surveys, etc.)
• Use all these data points to segment your mailings.
• What are similar qualities that your donors/prospects share?
4. Segmentation
• Make your content more relevant to your donors.
• Use your data points to segment your mailings.
5. Planning and Tracking
August August September October November November November November
Segment
Stewardship-
General
Collections: Energy Living Lab
Botany
Stewardship
Staff AR - No Ask AR - Ask AF Appeal
Board of Directors - Current
Board of Directors - Honorary, Emeritus
Board of Directors - Past
Binational Advisory Board
Board Committees
Board Prospects
Government Officials (From Custom List)
Staff - Current, Past, Retired, Contractor
Live Oaks Members
$250+ Donors from 2016-now BTS Group
Education/MAF (AF - Under $1000)
BRCC (AF - Under $1000) 2016–2019 ($5–$999)
SPC (Over $799)
Current LC's
Lapsed LC's from 2016-now
LC Prospects (7/1/2016+)
Family Days/Storytime Tickets from 2018
Nat at Night 2019
Escape Room Attendees
Natural History 101 Attendees
Live Oaks Key Prospects
Live Oaks Prospective
6. Botany Appeal - Year One
• Sent to:
• Volunteers (active, inactive, prospective)
• Past donors to botany
• Public program (specific to botany) participants
• 7.38% overall response rate
• 35% response from active volunteers
• Average gift $194; 16% were first time donors (non-members) and
33% were first time donors (members)
7. Botany Appeal - Years Two and Three
Year Two:
$10,000 challenge gift from year one donor
• Sent to:
• Volunteers (active) and past botany donors
• 30.77% overall response rate; average gift $300
Year Three:
$10,000 challenge gift again
• Sent to bigger group:
• Volunteers (active, inactive, prospective) and past botany donors
• 12% overall response rate; average gift $249
8. Say thank you. Say it again. And again.
• Customize your thank
you letters.
• Send gift specific
stewardship letters.
• Create events where
you know there is
interest.
Use segmentation for your all your follow-up activities.
9. Eowyn Bates
VP of Advancement
San Diego Natural History Museum
ebates@sdnhm.org