How to Reactivate Lapsed Donors? 63 Ways.

Goodness knows that we all need every donor we can get right now, and one of the first places to look may be in your lapsed donor files. We've combed the web for the best tips for reactivating lapsed donors, and built a list of links that includes 63 ways to reactivate lapsed donors.

Here are our top five:

1. Renew donors using the same methods that resulted in their earlier gifts. Did they respond to a holiday appeal? Were they asked by a Board member? Make sure that you do the same thing to woo them back.
2. Match your language to the length of lapse. Be more casual with recently lapsed donors ("We miss you") and more formal and more assertive with those who have been lapsed for longer periods ("Your past gifts made a huge difference. Won't you please renew your support by sending a gift today?").
3. Call your lapsed major donors and don't ask for money but ask them instead to tell you about their experiences with your organization and listen to them. Sometimes just asking for feedback and listening will bring them back into the fold.
4. Try a "downgrade" offer by sharing a lower cost donation option. After all, isn't a partial renewal better than none at all?
5. If older donors are lapsing, they may be on a restricted income. Now might be a great time to talk to them about planned giving and memorial gifts instead.

Get links to the other 58 tips here.