Feedback is essential for any fundraising campaign, as it helps you understand your donors' motivations, preferences, and satisfaction. However, getting feedback can be challenging, especially if you rely on traditional methods like surveys or phone calls. In this article, we will explore some creative ways to get feedback from donors that can increase engagement, loyalty, and learning.
Gamification is the use of game elements and mechanics to make a task more fun and rewarding. You can use gamification to get feedback from donors by creating quizzes, challenges, badges, leaderboards, or rewards. For example, you can ask donors to answer a trivia question about your cause or mission, and reward them with a badge or a donation match. Or you can create a challenge where donors have to share their feedback on social media or with their friends, and compete for a prize or recognition. Gamification can make feedback more enjoyable and interactive, and also generate more data and insights.
A feedback loop is a system where you collect feedback, analyze it, and act on it. You can create a feedback loop with your donors by using tools like email, SMS, or chatbots. For example, you can send an email to your donors after they make a donation, asking them to rate their experience or suggest improvements. Then you can analyze the responses and use them to improve your website, communication, or service. You can also follow up with your donors and let them know how you used their feedback, and thank them for their input. Creating a feedback loop can show your donors that you value their opinions and care about their needs.
At a previous organization, we used a short survey on the checkout thank you page when someone donated. It was a great opportunity to learn what motivated someone to give and which sector they desired to give towards. We also had questions on there like: Would you be willing to introduce us to your church? (If they answered Yes or Maybe, their info was routed to our Church Mobilization team) Are you interested in receiving a free Wills Kit? (routed to our planned giving team) You can ask questions to discover more information about how you can better serve your donors.
A really simple and effective way to get feedback is to send a friendly, personal, email with a question. This not only will help you obtain feedback but it will also create engagement with your donor, making them feel valued as a supporter. Better still, keep the conversation going by providing them with feedback on any changes you implement.
Storytelling is the art of using stories to convey a message or emotion. You can use storytelling to get feedback from donors by asking them to share their stories or stories of others related to your cause or campaign. For example, you can ask donors to tell you why they support your cause, how they got involved, or what impact they have seen or experienced. Or you can ask donors to share stories of the beneficiaries or communities you serve, and how your work has changed their lives. You can use platforms like video, audio, or text to collect and share these stories. Storytelling can elicit feedback that is more personal, emotional, and meaningful, and also inspire others to join your cause.
Cuando tuve que presentar el presupuesto para mi startup en Brasil ante un grupo de inversores, me concentré en conocer sus historias y los motivos por los que eran grandes inversores y habían llegado ahí. Logré crear un clima de empatía y el resto fue solo hablar de números y porcentajes. La atención fue capturada porque me ocupé de saber sobre ellos.
Social media is a powerful tool to connect with your donors and get feedback from them. You can use social media to get feedback from donors by creating polls, surveys, quizzes, or live sessions. For example, you can create a poll on Facebook or Twitter, asking your donors to choose between different options or preferences. Or you can create a survey on Instagram or LinkedIn, asking your donors to rate or rank different aspects of your campaign or organization. Or you can create a quiz on YouTube or TikTok, asking your donors to test their knowledge or skills related to your cause or mission. Or you can create a live session on Zoom or Facebook Live, asking your donors to join you for a Q&A or a discussion. Social media can help you get feedback that is more timely, relevant, and engaging, and also reach a wider audience.
Co-creation is the process of involving your donors in the design or development of your products, services, or campaigns. You can use co-creation to get feedback from donors by inviting them to participate in brainstorming, testing, or launching your ideas. For example, you can ask your donors to join a focus group or a workshop, where you can share your plans and get their input and feedback. Or you can ask your donors to test your prototypes or beta versions, and give you their suggestions and improvements. Or you can ask your donors to help you launch your products, services, or campaigns, and give you their feedback and support. Co-creation can help you get feedback that is more collaborative, innovative, and valuable, and also build trust and loyalty with your donors.
This article provides so many great ideas, including some new ideas that every organization could easily implement. One that was touched on with co-creation is utilizing your donors as advisory or advancement board members or, as in this article, focus groups. Have these highly engaged community members come together and chat about what is next for the organization, and lean on them as experts in the field/community to strengthen your strategic goals and outlook.