Storytelling is an incredibly effective way to stop people in their tracks and connect with them on a personal level. By telling your story in an engaging way, you can reach new people and help them understand your mission and vision.
Data driven storytelling—which is what donor journey mapping enables—allows you to gain better insights into how people are thinking about your organization and what it stands for. That awareness enables you to craft stories that are more appealing than ever before. This, in turn, helps your organization to reach new people and keep current donors engaged with your work.
Donor Journey Mapping and Donor Personas
What is a donor journey map?
Why do you need donor personas?
Once you have created your donor personas, it’s important to study the behavior of similar donors in order to design your donation process accordingly. For example, if a family man in the prime of life is most likely to donate through random acts of kindness (RAOK), you might want to create a RAOK donation crowdfunding page specifically for this group of donors.
By understanding your audience and tailoring your donor experience accordingly, you can more effectively tell your organization’s story and reach fundraising goals. However, it’s important to remember that your ultimate goal is not just collecting money—it’s getting donors involved in your mission and programs so that they become lifelong supporters of your work.
The Steps of Donor Journey Mapping
Create an empathy map (Miro has a useful template) to better understand what motivates your users and gain insight into their attitudes, beliefs and worries. This article by the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities does an excellent job explaining the details. By understanding these motivations behind your users’ behavior, you can develop more effective marketing campaigns that will reach them on an individual level.
Understand how different interactions impact individuals along the continuum of giving. This includes personal contacts (such as face-to-face meetings or email exchanges), interactions with sponsors or partners, and finally taking action (through attending events or making donations). When you have a clear picture of how all these different interactions impact donors, you can create strategic plans for success.
Conclusion
It’s true donor engagement is key to success in fundraising and that data-driven fundraising can be a powerful tool to help you achieve it. However, it all comes down to telling your story in a way that resonates with your audience. By taking some time to map out your donor journey, understand your target audience, and craft a story that will inspire them, you’ll gain more and longer-lasting support for your cause.
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