The Nonprofit Hero Factory
Episode 49: Recognize Your Three Donor Types… or Leave Money on the Table, with Sybil Ackerman-Munson
March 3, 2022
“If you approach the wrong donor the wrong way, then you will leave money on the table and you'll lose them at hello." All your donors are not alike. They may all have one thing in common: they want to support your work. But their motivations and interests may vary widely. Understanding why they support you and how they prefer to do so can make the difference between greater support and alienation. Unlike actors, they’re not going to ask you “what’s my motivation?” Instead, that’s a question that you should be asking them. Sybil Ackerman-Munson of Do Your Good has helped funders give away over $45 million to nonprofits whose work aligns with their own ethos. In the process, she identified three donor archetypes, based on their motivations. Sybil joins the show to explain how nonprofits can better understand and communicate with each type of donor to create better, more beneficial relationships for both sides. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep49 ** What we’ll be discussing: • The importance of positive messaging even in dire times • Three three categories that every donor falls into, and what that means for your fundraising • How to determine what type of donor each person is • The problem with the competitive scarcity mindset • Opportunities and fundraising advantages of collaboration
“If you approach the wrong donor the wrong way, then you will leave money on the table and you'll lose them at hello."

All your donors are not alike. They may all have one thing in common: they want to support your work. But their motivations and interests may vary widely. Understanding why they support you and how they prefer to do so can make the difference between greater support and alienation.

Unlike actors, they’re not going to ask you “what’s my motivation?” Instead, that’s a question that you should be asking them.

Sybil Ackerman-Munson of Do Your Good has helped funders give away over $45 million to nonprofits whose work aligns with their own ethos. In the process, she identified three donor archetypes, based on their motivations. 

Sybil joins the show to explain how nonprofits can better understand and communicate with each type of donor to create better, more beneficial relationships for both sides.

** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep49 **

What we’ll be discussing:

• The importance of positive messaging even in dire times
• Three three categories that every donor falls into, and what that means for your fundraising
• How to determine what type of donor each person is
• The problem with the competitive scarcity mindset
• Opportunities and fundraising advantages of collaboration