Improving donor stewardship, with Tom Hooper

We recently talked with Tom Hooper, Founder of Nimble Connect, on the organization’s focus on providing a unique approach to donor stewardship.  In our discussion, Tom explains how the nonprofit industry's multi-year declines in donor retention and the growing lack of trust among donors, for the institutions to which they donate, led to the creation of Nimble Connect.  Tom separated himself from the fundraising space to concentrate on what it takes to build a relationship.

Here are a few of Tom’s key insights:

●       His data shows that a well-delivered engagement call can alter donors’ behavior.  He found that gifts from donors increased overtime when an engagement call is made within a week of the gift being given.

●       Over a 27-month study, he found that 90% of new donors that were called gave a second gift

●       70% of organizations that have come on board have been decisions that women leaders have made.  Understanding relationships are important.  Intimacy is a key driver in building trust.  No surprise, the data shows that women are more trusted and it is largely because they are more skilled at developing intimate relationships