1. Development Cornerstone Article
“Engaging Donors”
Submitted by Bill Mojica and Joelene Evenson
The lifeblood of Nexus’ fundraising efforts is our donors. Without their support, our ability to
successfully move forward with our mission becomes quite difficult. Our development team invests
considerable time thinking about how we can engage our donors in our fundraising efforts. We ask
questions like, “How can we get our donors to get involved on an event committee?” Generally, the
answer on how to get a particular donor, or group of donors, more engaged isn’t a one-time event,
meeting, or phone call. Instead, the best way to get our donors more engaged is to develop a strong,
organization-wide donor cultivation program that keeps our supporters informed and energized about
our mission and current initiatives. To that end, here are five areas to focus on as we engage our donors:
Motivation
First and foremost, we need to keep our donors energized about our mission. Donors can forget a lot of
things and still stay interested in supporting Nexus… what they can’t lose sight of is the reason we exist –
helping kids. Donors love to hear stories about the people we serve, see pictures of the work we perform,
and understand why our work is vital to our community.
Information
Our donors want to feel like they are part of our team. The best way to ensure that is to keep them
informed. Through our website, Annual Report, Donor Newsletters, and annual appeals, they learn about
our successes and key initiatives. It is also important that they understand recent changes at Nexus, know
where to go for more information, and have a contact person they can reach for help or answers.
Communicate. Communicate. Communicate.
Small Asks
Engaged donors are active donors. We can help them become active at Nexus by making a series of small
asks. Not all of these asks should be for money. Ask them for their advice and insight, for their time (as
volunteers), for their leadership (on committees and boards), for their voice (in advocating for our cause
and helping us find new supporters), and for their financial support. Start with small asks, and get people
involved in a way that makes them feel comfortable and appreciated.
Recognition
We continue to recognize our donors for their time and generosity. It is critical to let our volunteers and
donors know how much we rely on their support. As a team, we need to express to them what their
support has meant for the individuals we serve. We do this in our annual reports and donor newsletters
already. Our donors support us not because they want to be recognized, but it sure does help them stay
engaged when they know they are appreciated for their generosity. A simple thank you goes a long way.
Organization
As we expand our donors and volunteers, it will become increasingly difficult to motivate and
communicate with our various teams. Successfully engaging with a large group of donors and prospects

2. will require a highly organized, well-planned effort. Everyone at Nexus is vital to our development
efforts. Our development department has an engagement plan and goals in place both short and long
term. We will continue to share our ideas and strategies with all of you. Within that plan, we will specify
which team members will be responsible for the tactics it includes. We have already established a system
for regular donor communication and recognition. Help us keep our donors engaged.