According to Penelope Burk, 46% of respondents to her 2014 Burk Donor Survey “can vividly remember their first foray into philanthropy.” She continues by saying, “Donors say they experience a joyful rush when they make the decision to give but are often disappointed when the acknowledgement letter they get back is labored and distant.”
I think donors are also disappointed with the online experience many nonprofits provide.
Here’s a report from Dunham+Company and Next After (link removed – report now offline) that shows what happens if you give about 150 organizations $20 and document the process. Here are just a few of their findings below:
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