Know your most profitable donors. Without a complete profile of your donors, you run the risk of not knowing who is most important. Unlike commercial enterprises, nonprofits are often named in a donor's will or estate plan. While some donors give only small annual gifts, they may bequeath your nonprofit quite a bit more in their wills. Provide a varied product mix.
All donors differ, as do their reasons for giving money to charity.
The more you know about your donors, the better equipped you are to provide giving opportunities that suit their needs. Create a matrix of giving components that customizes a giving program for each donor. For example, gifts of appreciated stock can easily be combined with charitable gift annuities to create a potent mix of capital gains tax relief, income tax savings and lifetime income for older donors with significant investment portfolios. Get the most from your front-line employees. The front line is the bottom line.