Building Relationships with Donors

Research indicates that acquiring new donors can cost up to seven times more than retaining existing ones. Through our work at The Simmons Agency supporting nonprofits, we are consistently impressed by organizations that prioritize maintaining genuine relationships with us, even when there is no “ask” involved.

Effective donor stewardship is about nurturing connections with funders who have already demonstrated interest in your mission. We recommend these three strategies for building lasting relationships:

• Consistent Communication: A thoughtful, timely birthday message can have a greater impact than a standard donation request. Balance formal and informal outreach through newsletters, holiday greetings, and impact reports. Even an in-person meeting can be highly effective. The more you demonstrate that you value the relationship beyond the financial support, the stronger your stewardship will become.

• Tailored Communication: Building rapport allows you to tailor your message to a funder’s specific interests. Sending irrelevant content to a funder can lead to unsubscribes and a loss of interest in your organization or goal. Ensure you are sending the right stories to the right people.

• Impactful Storytelling: Always seek opportunities to share the stories of your clients and your community impact. Donors want to feel confident that they are contributing to a meaningful cause. By consistently reporting your impact, you show them the value of their support, which naturally encourages continued engagement and future contributions.

At The Simmons Agency, we specialize in helping nonprofits and community leaders craft authentic communication strategies that build lasting engagement. Whether you need help refining your storytelling or developing an outreach plan, we are here to help. Contact us today at info@the-simmons-agency.com.

-Ali

Outreach Ministries at The Potter’s House

In order to know what's going on in the community, you have to actually get out there and be in the community. It's not enough to read about it for us at The Simmons Agency. So last week, we went out to see an organization in action.

The Potter's House International Ministries is a church located on the Westside of Jacksonville, Florida, that is having a tremendous impact on the community. One of their ways of giving back is through their food bank.
Roughly 160,000 residents of Duval County face food insecurity. It's sad that so many people don't know where or when their next meal is coming from. We love to see churches like The Potter's House standing in the gap and being a resource for so many people in need.

When we arrived, I was shocked by the size of the building. At first, we didn't know where to go, but after entering the front doors, we were immediately greeted by a smiling face. We were directed to the administration office, where we were able to get more information and were shown which side of the building the food pantry was on. The Potter's House is a multi-building complex that houses a bowling alley, restaurant, and gym, just to name a few things.

When we made it to the area for the food pantry, we witnessed a well-oiled machine at work. Their efficiency in processing the 100 or so people in need did nothing to take away from the love and care that was being shown in that room. The volunteers working for The Potter's House were all kind and warm-hearted. Not knowing where your next meal is coming from is an extraordinary weight to carry, but I witnessed that burden being lifted from those people as they moved through the line to receive their large box of food.

To go through the process to receive help, you present your ID, answer a few questions about your household, and then they take your picture and issue you a card. The next time you come in, you present that card to them, and you move through the line even quicker. The Potter's House food bank stands out to us because they help all who come through their doors in need. The people they help do not have to live in a particular area, so people from all around Jacksonville and Duval County come out and receive food. The variety of food in the boxes is worth noting, from chicken wings and thighs to ground beef and hamburger patties. There was a good amount of vegetables in the boxes as well.

If you or anyone you know is in need of help with food or would like to volunteer to help, please reach out to The Potter's House.

-Ron