If your nonprofit donor communication strategy still revolves around glossy postcards and expensive direct mail campaigns, you’ve got to make a change. Let’s talk:
💰 33% of donors say EMAIL gets them to donate.
📱 29% say SOCIAL MEDIA does the trick.
📬 Print mail? A solid 9%.
That’s according to the 2025 Online Donor Feedback Survey by Nonprofit Tech for Good.
While you’re spending thousands on beautifully designed mailers, most of them are landing straight in the recycling bin. Meanwhile, your donors are opening emails and engaging with social media posts instead.
Why Nonprofit Donor Communication Needs to Shift
Nonprofits don’t have time or money to waste. Every dollar spent on outreach should be pulling its weight. The data shows that non-profit donor communication works best when it focuses on email and social media, not outdated direct mail tactics.
How to Improve Your Nonprofit Donor Communication Strategy
Here’s how to make sure your non-profit donor communication isn’t stuck in the early 2000s:
1️⃣ Prioritize Email
- Your donor email list is gold. But sending an email once a year begging for money? Not it.
- Provide value before you ask. Impact updates, donor stories, behind-the-scenes content—give them reasons to stay engaged.
- Subject lines matter. If your emails sound like a sad corporate memo, nobody’s opening them.
2️⃣ Make Social Media a Fundraising Tool, Not Just a Bulletin Board
- If your social media is all “Donate now! Donate now! Donate now!” just stop already.
- Show, don’t tell. Use storytelling, testimonials, and video to connect with your audience.
- Make it easy. Add a donation button, a clear call to action, and direct links to your giving page.
3️⃣ If You Use Print Mail, Make It Count
- Personalization is key. A generic mailer? Nope. A handwritten thank-you with a real impact story? Love it.
- Pair it with digital. Include QR codes leading to an online donation page or an exclusive video message. (Oh, and please, please please stop putting your QR codes on social media! If I’m using my phone to look at your social media, I obviously can’t also scan your QR code with my phone.)
The Bottom Line
Your donors aren’t waiting by their mailboxes. They’re scrolling, clicking, and engaging where it’s convenient for them. Meet them there.
Not sure where to start? Let’s fix that. I can help you refine your non-profit donor communication strategy so you’re spending your time and money where it counts.
➡️ Let’s talk. Book a 15-minute call and let’s get your communications strategy where it needs to be.
