A stewardship campaign is a strategic initiative to build and strengthen relationships with donors, as well as to acknowledge and recognize their contributions. The goal of a stewardship campaign is to ensure that donors feel valued, appreciated, and engaged with the organization, which leads to increased donor retention rates and more donations over time. In this blog post, we’ll explore why and when a nonprofit should implement a stewardship campaign and the benefits it can bring to the organization.

When should a nonprofit implement a stewardship campaign?

You should consider implementing a stewardship campaign when you want to build stronger relationships with your donors, especially after a major fundraising event or campaign. These types of events often bring in new donors who are excited about the organization’s mission and want to support it financially. A comprehensive campaign welcomes donors to the organization and makes them feel more connected to the organization’s mission.

A stewardship campaign should also be implemented when you are experiencing a decline in donor retention rates, or when you want to increase the average gift size of your donors. By showing donors how much they are valued and appreciated, and demonstrating the impact of their contributions, a stewardship campaign can encourage donors to reactivate their annual or monthly gifts.

Why does a nonprofit need a fundraising stewardship campaign?

A stewardship campaign is critical for a nonprofit organization’s long-term sustainability and success. Here are some of the key reasons why:

Increases donor retention rates:

A well-executed stewardship campaign can help to retain donors by making them feel valued and appreciated. By recognizing their contributions and showing them the impact of their support, donors are more likely to continue giving to the organization over time. Check out our other blog post on donor retention.

Encourages repeat donations:

Stewardship emails can also encourage donors to give again by demonstrating the impact of their previous donations. This can be done through impact reports, testimonials from beneficiaries, and other forms of communication that show donors the difference their contributions are making. NextAfter reports that recurring donors can be up to 4 times more valuable than one-time donors.

Builds stronger relationships:

By showing donors how much they are valued and appreciated, stewardship emails can help to build stronger relationships between donors and the organization. This can lead to increased loyalty, advocacy, and even volunteerism. As a result, when it comes to the Giving Tuesday and the end-of-year campaign push, donors will be more likely to give.

Increases average gift size:

By demonstrating the impact of larger donations, stewardship emails can encourage donors to increase the size of their gifts over time. This can have a significant impact on the organization’s overall fundraising goals.

Enhances the organization’s reputation:

Implementing a stewardship campaign can allow a nonprofit organization to demonstrate its commitment to stewardship and accountability. This can help to enhance the organization’s reputation and build trust with donors and other stakeholders.

Examples of a Stewardship Email

In Conclusion

A stewardship campaign is an essential component of any nonprofit organization’s fundraising strategy. With carefully-designed stewardship emails, you can further connect with your donors and keep them engaged. If you’re a nonprofit organization looking to build stronger relationships with your donors and increase your fundraising success over the long term, a fundraising stewardship campaign is definitely worth considering.

Contact us today for a complimentary conversation on how we can help you include stewardship in your annual communications plan.