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 over 11+ years of nonprofit experience to his role as a principal strategy consultant at Blackbaud. He focuses on helping nonprofits create online fundraising, email, P2P, social media, SEO, analytics and website optimization strategies to maximize giving opportunities. Mike previously managed the turnaround of the Ride For Roswell, including the event’s growth from $330,000 to $1.2 million over a three-year period. Connect with Mike on LinkedIn and Twitter at @mikesnusz. To learn how Mike can help your organization’s next fundraising campaign, contact him at mike.snusz@blackbaud.com.