In a recent webinar co-hosted by Double the Donation and Funraise, Grace Green, Partnerships Lead at Double the Donation, and our own Dani Lockard, Funraise Account Executive, shared actionable strategies for nonprofits to strengthen supporter communities through matching gifts. Their conversation emphasized intentional relationship-building and mission-driven collaboration based on a foundation of data and facts.

We've pulled the pieces of the Community, Workplace Giving, and Collaboration: Building Effective Supporter Networks webinar that you'll be interested in. Here’s what stood out:

"Community" goes beyond donors

Dani stressed that community includes "donors, volunteers, board members, advocates—anyone connected to your mission." She advised organizations to start by identifying supporters’ motivations through data: "Segment your audience based on interests or engagement patterns. Track what drives donors to give, then tailor communications to reflect those shared values." Grace added that clarity is key: "Make sure your mission and impact are crystal clear on your website so supporters understand exactly what they’re contributing to."

Defined with a broader brush, community includes donors, volunteers, board members, and advocates. Building a community requires identifying core values that resonate with supporters and using data-driven approaches to segment audiences based on their interests and motivations.

Further, aligning community initiatives means matching more than just gifts: organizational values, mentioning joint events, corporate volunteer days, and matching gift programs are effective strategies.

Drive engagement with personalized impact

Both Dani and Grace agreed on the importance of contextualizing contributions, especially when it comes to matching donations. Dani explained, "Instead of a generic $25 ask, tie donations to specific outcomes—like '$25 feeds a child for a week.' Donors need to see how their gift directly advances your work." She also recommended reinforcing this in your follow-ups: "Use automated receipts or SMS updates to show progress, like reaching a campaign goal or funding a project."

Shared strategies like these make supporters feel valued; think personalized thank-you communications, SMS engagement, and using data to track donor preferences.

Practical tools for nurturing supporter relationships

Since relationships are key here, Dani provided advice on creating authentic engagement through clear communication of mission and impact. She stressed the importance of contextualizing donation requests and demonstrating how contributions (and their corporate matches!) directly support specific projects.

• Automated-yet-personal touchpoints: "Leverage tools to send volunteer updates, milestone alerts for peer-to-peer fundraisers, or birthday messages," Dani suggested.
• Data organization: Grace noted, "Review donor profiles before meetings to reference past interactions—it shows you value their partnership."
• Handwritten notes: While time-consuming, Dani shared, "I’ve kept every handwritten thank-you I’ve received. They leave a lasting impression."

Finally, Dani emphasized the importance of data management in supporting community members as their roles evolve, including raising the bar by broadening giving options to include corporate matching and donor-advised funds.

Sustaining long-term connections

For recurring donors, Dani compared stewardship to a subscription model: "Keep supporters engaged with regular impact updates. Highlight their role in multi-year initiatives, not just one-time transactions." Grace added, "Recognize loyal donors publicly on social media or events—but always prioritize meaningful, personalized recognition over volume."

When you treat recurring donations like subscription models, with rewards like exclusive access to events or regular impact updates, you can invest in your existing donor bases while also seeking new opportunities.

This conversation between partners underscored that community-building hinges on clarity, context, and consistency. As Dani put it: "Your supporters aren’t just funding your mission—they’re partners in it. Meet them where they are, show how their involvement matters, and keep the conversation going." By integrating these principles, nonprofits can create networks that feel valued, informed, and invested for the long haul.

Quotes sourced from the February 20, 2025 webinar transcript between Double the Donation and Funraise.