The Annual Giving Exchange

Permission is often overlooked as an important aspect of relationships, especially relationships with donors.  It’s not always clear if, when, and how someone wants to have a relationship with your organization.  It can be even less clear if, when, and how someone wants to support your organization financially.

Consider the role of permission in your annual giving strategy.  Start by asking yourself a few simple questions:

• If someone attends your event, is it okay to solicit him/her?
• Would someone provide their contact information if they didn’t want to hear from your organization?
• Should asking to be removed from a mailing list automatically exclude someone as a prospect?
• When someone becomes a fan of your organization’s Facebook page, are they giving you permission?

Permission is important, but it isn’t always clear.