What if the ask isn't for money? What if it's a question?

A donor of fifteen years told one of my clients, "Nobody ever asked me what I thought. They just told me what they'd done." He'd made peace with being a checkbook.

I keep hearing versions of that story. Loyal donors who'd give more, and stay longer, if we simply asked them what they see.

On this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I make the case that listening is a fundraising strategy, not a courtesy. We get into how to design listening sessions and donor advisory councils, and the one step almost everyone skips: closing the loop so donors see what changed because they spoke up.

When's the last time you asked a major donor, "What are we missing?"

Listen to this week's episode, then share it with someone who needs the reminder that donors want to be heard, not just thanked.

More from Tammy Zonker

Author of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater Impact

Founder of Fundraising Transformed

President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving

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