Donor Surveys

Kathleen Eastman

My team would like to send a survey to donors for a variety of questions, for example, What prompted you to give for first time and old sybunt donors, and why is supporting our Institute every year important to you for our steady donors, etc. If anyone is willing to share the questions from a survey you held that provided some meaningful and useful responses I would be most grateful! You can respond here or send directly to me via email: keastman@ias.edu


Thank you!!


Kathy

Heather Pauli

We've asked donors to rate a list of services we provide to the community in order of importance to them, and also asked if there are any programs they would like to see added in the future.

Faith Murray

We've asked "What part of our mission do you connect most closely with?" and then we give them a menu of multiple-choice options. We've also had good response with the "What can we offer you more of?" also with a multiple-choice menu (with an "Other" field, of course).


I have to admit, though, that we do not utilize these surveys as thoroughly as some, more tech-saavy nonprofits do. I viewed a recent webinar, I think during the online Bridge conference, which described including a one-question survey in your automatic thank-you following an online donation; at which point the system would automatically customize their messages to the mission they most connected with. So if a donor selected that they donated to an animal shelter in order to save dogs (not cats), their future emails would appeal them to "save a homeless dog". According to the webinar, it produced a significant lift in response.

Catherine Burns

The most useful questions we have asked have been around bequests with options for already included, intend to include, considering, more info please, will not be leaving a bequest, and please don't ask again.


We have also been surprised how many people complete the date of birth field which is useful for confirming identity and bequest prospecting. Don't be afraid to ask if it might be useful.


We also ask about motivation, commitment and how satisfied they are with the recognition they get as donors. These are recorded as constituent attributes. Comments are recorded on the Survey Sent action.