A true story from a colleague…
During a recent university advancement meeting we broke out into roundtable discussions about tips and techniques for getting donor visits and engagement. I shared a tip that I’ve found useful, coined the “drive by” visit. Drive by visits are great when you’ve had a tough time connecting with busy people. They involve a brief stop to drop off a little something- a card, tchotchke, note, treat (I make persimmon bread during the holidays) etc. The individual doesn’t have to be there- it’s simply a chance to drop off something that says- I’ve made an effort to see you because you are important. I went on to share that in most cases, the prospect has responded with a call, email or invitation to meet. Even better, some resulted in contributions.
Fast forward two months. A young colleague and I were making a joint visit to a donor. In route she said, “Say, that “drive-by” tactic works”. Tell me more, I invited her. She went on to say that she made two “drive by” visits that resulted not only in positive communication with the prospects but two end-of-the-year gifts – one that was $10,000.
Keep up the good work everyone! Happy New Year! Let’s make it a great 2018.
