It's Time to Get Your Donors Involved! Why? . . . Magic, Money, Loyalty!

Tom Iselin
May 30, 2021
3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

This video is a reminder that you should not forget small donors because many of them have deep pockets and may be just testing you, or they just might put you in their will!

https://youtu.be/b9g0sVg00WI

Get Your Donors Involved! Why? . . . Magic, Money, Loyalty!

Why Donor Involvement Matters

Here’s the core truth:Involved donors become loyal donors. Loyal donors become generous donors.

If donors only hear from you when you’re asking for money, their emotional connection fades. When that happens, they drift away—often to the nonprofit down the street.

When donors participate in the work, witness the impact firsthand, and feel part of something meaningful, their giving naturally increases.

The Problem: We Ask for Money, Not Engagement

Most nonprofits spend enormous time asking donors for gifts and very little time inviting them into the mission.

A typical pattern:

Ask for money
Send a thank-you
Add them to an email list

Done.

This is not engagement.This is transactional fundraising—and it keeps donors distant and uninvolved.

Donors today want more.They want to help. They want to contribute their skills, influence, relationships, and ideas. They want to feel part of your work, not just a bank account supporting it.

Donors Want to Roll Up Their Sleeves

Not every donor wants to volunteer in a program—but many want to:

serve on committees
host events
provide strategic or professional guidance
make introductions
advocate in the community
help staff brainstorm solutions
speak on behalf of the mission

There are dozens of meaningful ways donors can contribute beyond writing a check. You just need to ask.

Traditional Engagement Still Works

Don’t overlook the classics:

tours of your facility
introductions to staff and beneficiaries
casual social gatherings
small events or open houses
insider updates or briefings

These experiences create emotional connection—the heart of all major giving.

Your #1 Tool: A Donor Engagement Form

One of the most effective and overlooked tools you can use is a Donor Engagement Form.

This simple two-page checklist helps donors identify how they want to participate based on their:

time
skills
interests
availability

Categories might include:

Programming: volunteering, mentoring, event support
Fundraising: hosting gatherings, making introductions, advocating
Operations: committee work, advisory support
Influence: community connections, promotional support

Hand it to donors.Review it with them at coffee or lunch.Ask which opportunities excite them.

Let them choose.When donors select their own roles, they engage enthusiastically.

Involvement = Loyalty = Money

The payoff is huge:

donors give more
donors give longer
donors feel ownership
donors become ambassadors
donors bring other donors
donors are less likely to drift away

Emotionally connected donors don’t leave.They lean in.

Final Encouragement

Get your donors involved in the work of your organization. If you want bigger gifts and more committed supporters, involvement is your golden path.

If you have a topic you'd like me to cover, email me or connect with me on social media—I'd love to hear from you.

Key Takeaways

Involved donors become loyal—and loyalty drives large, repeated gifts.
Most nonprofits ask donors for money but rarely invite them into meaningful participation.
Donors want options beyond volunteering: hosting, advising, connecting, speaking, strategizing.
A Donor Engagement Form is a powerful tool to match donor interests with mission needs.
Emotional connection is the engine of long-term fundraising success.

Summary

Donors give more generously when they feel meaningfully involved in your mission. Instead of treating donors as checkbooks, invite them into the life of your organization through conversation, tours, small events, and a simple engagement form that highlights ways they can help. The more connected they feel, the more loyal—and generous—they become.

Tom Iselin

Rated One of America’s Best Board Retreat

and Strategic Planning Facilitators

About the Author

Tom Iselin is recognized as one of America’s leading authorities on high-performance nonprofits. He has built nine sector-leading nonprofits and two software companies, written six books, sits on multiple boards, and has been rated one of America’s Best Board Retreat and Strategic Planning Facilitators. His work on nonprofit strategy, board leadership, and culture has been featured on CNN, Nightline, and in Newsweek.

Tom is the president of First Things First, a firm specializing in board retreats, strategic planning services, fundraising strategy, and executive coaching for nonprofit CEOs.

Board Retreats & Strategic Planning

If you’re looking for a board retreat facilitator or strategic planning facilitator who has been in the trenches and understands real-world nonprofit challenges, Tom can help your board gain clarity, build alignment, and create an actionable plan that improves performance and impact. His sessions propel organizations to the next level of performance and impact . . . and they're fun!

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