GUEST: Amy Eisenstein, consultant, author, speaker, and creator of the online fundraising course Mastering Major Gifts. She is also the CEO and Co-Founder of the Capital Campaign Toolkit.

MAIN QUESTION: What are the best fundraising strategies for animal shelters during COVID?

TAKEAWAYS:

• Maintain – and if at all possible increase – contact with donors during the pandemic. Donors still want to hear from you.
• Focus on two groups: your biggest and best donors, communicating with them about current plans and needs; and ongoing and loyal donors, converting them from annual to monthly donations.
• Convey urgency but not desperation in your messaging.
• And don't overlook using volunteers to help with calling donors to thank them and increase donor engagement. (Finding the right volunteers and providing training are key.)

LINKS:

• Amy Eisenstein's nonprofit fundraising consultation website with blog, newsletter, and free resources: amyeisenstein.com
• Amy's website aimed specifically at capital campaigns: capitalcampaigntoolkit.com
• Leadership recommendation: Blue Avocado (a magazine for nonprofits)

Recorded June 10, 2020.