Being generous and connecting with your donors

Two important questions to consider:

1. How can you be generous in your fundraising without it costing you money?
2. How can you better connect with your donors?

Allison Fine has a thought provoking post about moving from the transactional database approach of fundraising to a more networked one that joins like minded donors together and gives them the tools to communicate. 

She compares it to the rise of giving circles and why people want to feel a sense of belonging (for more on this check out the 'Herd' blog) and gives some good ideas of how charities could achieve this.

On a similar theme, Nancy Schwartz gives a number of examples of how charities have been generous and strengthened interest, understanding and empathy with their supporters.

Being generous doesn't have to be about money. 

You can be generous with time, information, by listening etc, etc.  Any time you can find an opportunity to be generous to a supporter you should take it.  They won't forget it and you won't be disappointed you did.