How to Cultivate Stronger Relationships
Good friendships get better with time, especially if you put in the work to nurture them. Likewise, to achieve success for your organization, it’s vital both to cultivate new potential connections and strengthen your existing ones. Read on to learn how to cultivate stronger relationships with your board members, donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
Spark Interest in Your Vision
Effective programs of cultivation educate people and spark their interest, which encourages them to get further involved. With their appetites whetted, people crave more involvement and want to help. Map out a plan to do this throughout the year, with publications, newsletters, and special events evenly spaced. Utilize your publications, website and newsletters to inform people. When possible, visit your most influential people personally to share your vision.
When visiting with leaders and donors, thank them for the many ways they have helped your organization, and show them what it has enabled you to do. Then, share the broad vision of what you want to do in the coming year, and explain how they can help. Show them your vision for the desired outcome and how it will impact your communities.
Take a Personal Approach
People do not respond to need; they respond to people. People give more because they develop deeper and more fulfilling relationships with those who are helping them make the world better. The fastest and most effective way to build stronger relationships with your leaders and donors is to purposely spend quality time with them. A good relationship is built on many little positive things. A kind word here, a warm gesture there, and a thoughtful note or gift. Perhaps the best gift is fellowship with your constituents, working to create warm memories surrounding the work you do together.
Like money at compound interest, many little kindnesses outperform one major gesture. Consider implementing some of these kind gestures into your routine:
- Call members of your community to express your appreciation, or just to talk
- Write handwritten thank-you notes
- Schedule brief in-person visits when possible
- Send a nice package once per month
Check out our related article for some additional strategies you can employ to create a pool of new major donors and to inspire your current donors to get further involved.
CDS has been a leader in nonprofit fundraising for the past three decades. Contact us for more intensive help with your major gift fundraising, strategic planning, or in preparing for a capital campaign.