Right now, the supporter experience matters more than ever

We bring you an excellent webinar from the UK's Institute of Fundraising featuring a diverse group of hands-on fundraisers from organisations large and small explaining how to continue giving a great donor experience during the coronavirus crisis.

Written by
Joe Burnett
Added
March 18, 2020

On Monday March 31st 2020, the UK’s Institute of Fundraising (IoF) gathered (well, connected via computer) a wide range of fundraisers working in the UK charity sector. They joined together for a webinar that was determined to answer a key question: how can we manage relationships with donors at this time of international crisis?

As the NSPCC's former Director of Fundraising Giles Pegram said in his section, ‘the outbreak of covid-19 means that it is more important than ever to give donors a good experience. All charities will be affected by the pandemic, but how they react could make all the difference’.

Around 2,300 people registered to listen. Though only 1,000 could listen live, this shows the level of interest and IoF will ensure greater capacity next time. Each speaker had a unique and interesting perspective, some from large organisations others small. But they all agreed: this doesn’t have to be a doom and gloom situation. Above all, reaching out to donors is crucial. As Marina Jones of the Royal Opera House said, ‘your supporters will appreciate speaking to you’.

We are grateful to the IoF for allowing us to feature the full webinar here. The list of speakers is as follows:

Angela Cluff: IoF Supporter Experience Chair, Fundraising Consultant and Trustee of Oxfam GB

Giles Pegram: CBE IoF Supporter Experience committee member

Catherine Deakin: Director of Fundraising and Communications, Changing Faces UK

Marina Jones: Head of Membership and Fundraising Appeals, Royal Opera House

Magid El Amin: Supporter Experience Strategist, NSPCC

Sarah Bissell: Director of Fundraising and Marketing, Thames Hospice

Sam Afhim: Director of Fundraising and Communications, Freedom from Torture

This e-mail from the National Youth Orchestra perfectly illustrates what many of the webinar’s speakers say, as Nicolette Shaw and her team sent it out to reassure donors that they’re still operating and that supporters can get in touch.

This article is part of our ongoing series on fundraising in a time of crisis. To read more, please click here. We would love to hear how your organisation is coping with the outbreak of coronavirus and the impact it's having on your fundraising. If you’d like to contribute, please e-mail joe@sofii.org.

About the author: Joe Burnett

Joe Burnett

Joe Burnett (he/him) cut his teeth as an intern at the Association of French Fundraisers, he then embarked on a career in advertising before returning to where his heart lay: in the charities sector. Joe is passionate about fundraising and how it can be a force for positive change in the world. 

Recent Articles

Supporter care – it’s the best investment you can make in fundraising

Ralph Welch didn’t expect his chance encounter with a Women’s Super League customer service team to make him think much about fundraising. But an unexpected response after a recent purchase made him reflect on charities and supporter care. Read on to find out more and learn a few top tips.

Read more

Asking your donors the right way – six tips to build relationships and giving

Fundraisers, we all know it can be hard to make the ask. Whether you need to speak to your donor in person or on paper, it’s not easy to ask for the donations that your organisation and your beneficiaries need. In this article, copywriter and consultant George Crankovic shares six useful tips to help you make that all-important request. 

Read more

What can 6,000 fundraising appeals from 1912 teach you about asking for money?

In part one of this series on William Harvey Allen’s review of 6,000 fundraising appeals, Marina Jones noted that the challenges fundraisers face hasn’t really changed much in 100+ years. But today, Marina looks at what these historical appeals can teach us about how we ask for money from donors. Dive in to discover ten key lessons.  

Read more

What can 6,000 appeal letters show you about fundraising 100 years ago?

In 1912, researcher William Harvey Allen studied an incredible 6,000 fundraising appeals – and then wrote a book about it. In some ways, it’s a bit like an early SOFII, a place where Allen documented the fundraising tips (and mistakes) of his time. Marina Jones takes you through Allen’s findings and shares some of the ways in which fundraising hasn’t changed.

Read more

New research says the cost of living crisis doesn’t have to be a ‘cost of giving’ crisis

A new study by agency Blue State looks at how people in the UK are engaging with charities. This research into UK giving behaviours, through the cost of living crisis, shows a mood of cautious generosity among the UK public. Click to read an overview then download the full report today.

Read more