Turn GiveNOLA Day Donors Into Long-Term Supporters

GiveNOLA Day is done and the donations have come in. Hopefully you've hit your fundraising goal and connected with new donors and community members passionate about your mission and your nonprofit's work. You’ve climbed one hill, but there’s still work to be done. We want to help you keep that momentum going and find ways to maintain a relationship with your new donors so they continue to give to your organization with their time, money, or both.

Capture Contact Info and Turn GiveNOLA Day Donors into Subscribers

Export your donor list from the Give NOLA Day platform (MightyCause) to keep valuable donor information in your network. Log into your GiveNOLA Day profile, click on contacts in the dashboard, and click export to download the contacts of your donors. Don't assume everyone who gave is already on your email list; many of your GiveNola Day donors may be new to your organization and email list. 

Make sure you give donors an opportunity to continue the conversation with your non-profit. The GiveNOLA Day platform doesn't give donors an opt-in for future marketing from your organization. That means you need to send a follow-up message after Give NOLA Day with a bold, clear CTA asking them to subscribe to your newsletter or join your mailing list. Without this step, you risk getting flagged if you send continuous marketing messages to contacts who haven't explicitly opted in.

When you export your list, segment it. The platform gives donors the option to mark if they're a first-time donor and if they'd be interested in volunteering with your org in the future. Use that data to personalize your outreach. First-time donors, returning donors, high-dollar donors, and potential volunteers all need different next steps.

The goal now is to stay visible so when donors are ready to give again or volunteer, you're top of mind. That starts with an impactful thank you. 

Thank Donors With a Memorable Message

A heartfelt thank-you reassures donors that their gift was received and valued. The faster you express appreciation, the stronger the connection you build.

If you haven't already sent a follow-up thank-you message, aim to thank your donors soon after receiving their gift. While Give NOLA Day sends automated messages with the donation receipt, an additional email or touchpoint gives you an opportunity to deepen the donor relationship. 

What makes a thank-you memorable? Tying their gift to specific impact. Go beyond "thanks for donating" and try, "because of your $50 gift, we're able to provide one week of summer camp to a student who couldn't otherwise attend." When donors see exactly what their dollars will do, they feel connected to the outcome—not just the transaction.

When you can, opt for a personal touch for your donor outreach. At Be Loud Studios, their middle and high school DJs call every Give NOLA Day donor to say thank you. Parents write handwritten notes. It reinforces their mission while stewarding supporters. .

Major donors always warrant more intimate gestures. Your larger GiveNola donors shouldn't get the same thank-you as everyone else. Send a personalized email. If possible, reach out with a phone call from your Executive Director, board member, or staff member. The extra effort signals how much their support truly matters.

Gratitude isn't a one-and-done exercise. Multiple touchpoints matter, from email, social media posts, to personal outreach. Each one reinforces the donor relationship. And as you continue to communicate with donors in the weeks and months ahead, keep showing them the tangible impact of their gift. Share photos, videos, and stories that prove their dollars are making a difference. When donors see real results, they move from "I gave once" to "I'm part of the mission."

Invite GiveNOLA Day Donors to Stay Involved, Beyond a One-Time Gift

Different donors will engage in different ways. It’s important to meet them where they are. Make sure your GiveNola Day follow up communications include multiple ways donors can stay involved with your organization, including but not limited to ongoing giving. 

Send them your upcoming events. A $10 donor may not give again right away, but they might show up to your community event or fundraiser. Getting them physically in the door deepens their connection to your work.

Invite them to volunteer. Giving time is another form of investment. Use the data from the Give NOLA Day platform where donors specifically indicated they'd be interested in volunteering. Reach out to them directly with concrete opportunities.

Make the ask for ongoing donations. Monthly giving, end-of-year campaigns, ticket purchases to your gala. Not every donor is ready for this, but some are. You can segment your approach for greater impact:

• Small donors ($10-$50): Event invites, volunteer opportunities, social media follows

• Mid-tier donors ($100-$250): Monthly giving invites, exclusive program updates

• Major donors ($500+): Personal invitations to fundraising events, VIP experiences, board introductions

The $10 donor may show up to your events or become a volunteer. The $500 donor may decide to give monthly or purchase a ticket to your next fundraiser. Give every donor a next step that feels right for their level of engagement.

Don't Overlook the Team Debrief

While your top priority should be ensuring donors are thanked and engaged, we always recommend scheduling a post-mortem conversation about your GiveNOLA performance. It’s an opportunity for your team to discuss what worked, what could be improved, and what you can do next year to meet your goal or exceed it. The organizations that improve are the ones that document their lessons while they're still fresh.

Donor Retention is a Strategy, Not a Checkbox

Ready to turn your Give NOLA Day donors into long-term supporters? Download our free 90-Day Donor Retention Checklist at comfystone.com/checklist for a complete roadmap to gratitude, engagement, and retention.