Understanding donor relations and the role of CRM

Over the past decade, donor expectations have significantly evolved, with donors now seeking more tailored experiences that resonate with their personal values and interests. Supporting this shift has been advancements in the nonprofit tech stack that allow for ever-more segmentation and personalized communication strategies.

Engagement strategies have also moved beyond traditional methods to incorporate more interactive and immersive experiences. Donors today expect to be actively involved in the causes they support, rather than being passive contributors. Nonprofit technology leaders have expanded a stack that now caters to virtual events, social media campaigns, and other digital engagement tools. Additionally, nonprofits are increasingly focusing on creating year-round engagement plans for sustained support, rather than one-time fundraising events.

Donors also now expect greater transparency and impact statements from organizations, increasingly seeing themselves as partners in the work the nonprofit does. As a result, nonprofits have invested in platforms that bolster their reporting and storytelling techniques.

Effective engagement increases donations, volunteerism, and advocacy. But nonprofits face significant technology challenges, including data silos, technical debt, technical skill deficits, and inefficient processes.