10 Ways to Offend Your Peer-to-Peer Fundraisers

Motivating peer-to-peer fundraisers—whether they’re event or DIY (Do-It-Yourself) fundraisers—is one of the top ways to accelerate peer-to-peer fundraising.

But motivating peer-to-peer fundraisers is a bit of an art.

It takes the right mix of mission connection, personal attention, incentives, tools, recognition, and relevant messaging.

And by ignoring those last two—recognition and relevant messaging—you can quickly turn off peer-to-peer fundraisers.

When someone is raising money for your nonprofit, they are proud, enthusiastic and driven.

An easy way to damper those feelings is to not recognize their progress and activity. In fact, just ignore it altogether.

And that’s what happens in many peer-to-peer fundraising coaching emails. As fundraisers are just getting started, their small steps and victories are ignored.

So fundraisers feel like no one is watching or appreciates their efforts (even though modern technologies make it easy).

What are some of the top culprits?

Here are my top 10 ways to offend your peer-to-peer fundraisers:

1. Ask me to make a donation…after I already did
2. Talk about getting my fundraising started….even though I’ve received several gifts
3. Outline how to reach my goal…even though I’ve surpassed it
4. Ask me to start a team…even though I’m a team captain
5. Talk to me like a first-time fundraiser…when I’m one of last year’s top fundraisers
6. Tell me to personalize my page…after I already did
7. Tell me to use email…after I’ve emailed 20 friends
8. Tell me to thank my donors…after I already did
9. Say how my fundraising is likely chugging along…when I’ve raised $0
10. Give me fundraising tips…and ignore the money I’ve already raised

Those are my top 10. Share your examples in the comments below.

And if your coaching and auto-responder emails are guilty of any (or all!) of the above, we can help. Email me at mike.snusz@blackbaud.com to learn more.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mike Snusz

Mike Snusz brings 18 years of fundraising experience to his role as a Senior Team Lead on Blackbaud’s Professional Services team. He leads a team of digital consultants and works with nonprofits to improve their digital fundraising, monthly giving, email marketing and peer-to-peer fundraising programs. Prior to Blackbaud, Mike managed the turnaround of the Ride For Roswell from 2003 to 2005 in his hometown of Buffalo, NY. When he’s not contemplating fundraising, Mike enjoys hide and seek, tag, and dance parties with his two kids.