Do you want something "for" your donors or "from" your donors? The answer could mean everything to your mission.

I love LinkedIn groups.  By joining, you can learn from some amazing people for free!
Recently Howard Freeman, CFRE [Senior Campaign Director at Young Life, Greater NY Division] reminded the participants in a discussion that the key difference that defines the tone of your relationship with those that support your mission is whether you want something ‘for‘ your donors or ‘from‘ your donors.
Think about that for a second.  If you only want money ‘from’ your donors, you’re doing it all wrong.
The goal should be to provide ‘for’ your donors.
“Like what?” you might ask.  Here’s a list of what you could provide ‘for’ your donors:

• Information
• Involvement
• Transparency
• Relief from guilt
• Celebrity status
• Salvation
• Warmth in their hearts
• Power to affect change and do good
• Recognition
• Tax breaks
• Opportunities to give back
• Networking opportunities
• Social engagements and camaraderie
• Friendships

…and a ton of other benefits.
So when you sit down to create your next marketing campaign, think about what you are doing ‘for’ your donors, just as much as (if not more than) what you want ‘from’ your donors.