Donor Stewardship Strategies & Nonprofit Marketing Resources
Resources for Building Lasting Donor Relationships
Donor stewardship is one of the most powerful drivers of nonprofit fundraising success. With average donor retention rates declining industry-wide, keeping donors engaged, appreciated, and connected to your mission is more critical than ever. Effective stewardship goes far beyond the thank-you note: it encompasses the full arc of donor communication, from first outreach and cultivation, through solicitation, recognition, and ongoing impact reporting.
AFP's resources on donor stewardship and nonprofit marketing cover the strategies fundraising professionals rely on to retain donors, grow giving, and deepen relationships at every level — from first-time donors to major gift prospects. Explore best practices in donor cultivation, personalized outreach, gratitude programs, impact storytelling, sponsorship development, and multichannel nonprofit marketing to help you build the loyal donor base your mission depends on.
Employee giving is an incredible opportunity for any organization’s philanthropic strategy, and giving employees should be treated like any other benefactors. Just because someone wears an employee badge doesn’t mean their engagement in charitable giving should be different. For many years...
September 29 & 30, 2025 (2-day series) 12:00 – 2:00 PM ET Each Day $209 USD (Members); $279 USD (Non-Members) Did you know that many nonprofits lose nearly as many donors and gifts as they gain each year? How can you stop the churn? This workshop focuses on donor retention with an emphasis on using...
September 25, 2025 (1-day) 1:00-5:00 PM ET $209 USD (Members); $279 USD (Non-Members) Are you a nonprofit development director ready to take your digital fundraising to the next level? This intensive 4-hour course equips you with the knowledge and strategies to maximize existing channels, explore...
July 16 & 17, 2025 (2-day series) 12:00 – 2:00 PM ET Each Day $209 USD (Members); $279 USD (Non-Members) Did you know that many nonprofits lose nearly as many donors and gifts as they gain each year? How can you stop the churn? This workshop focuses on donor retention with an emphasis on using data...
June 12, 2025 (1-day) 1:00-5:00 PM Eastern $209 USD (Members); $279 USD (Non-Members) Come join us as we learn how to increase online giving using effective digital and social media for increasing online giving. With an emphasis on best practices website design, effective email campaigns, Facebook...
March 24 & 25, 2025 (2-day series) 12:00 – 2:00 PM ET Each Day $209 USD (Members); $279 USD (Non-Members) Did you know that many nonprofits lose nearly as many donors and gifts as they gain each year? How can you stop the churn? This workshop focuses on donor retention with an emphasis on using data...
1:00-2:00 PM Eastern | Presenter: Pamela Perkins Dwyer Eligible for 1 CFRE Education Point Pamela believes that donor stewardship is the cornerstone of successful fundraising and sustainable nonprofit growth. She will focus on ways to strengthen your donor relationships to ensure long-term support...
1:00-2:00 PM Eastern | Presenter: Julia Gackenbach, DonorPerfect Eligible for 1 CFRE Education Point Each of your supporters is on a unique journey of giving with your nonprofit. When you plot common donor experiences along a storyboard, you can gently guide them along a path that leads to...
In this micro-learning video, Tara Adams, JD, Ed.M. and Anthony Pomonis, CFRE share the five conditions that a donor must meet to demonstrate donative capacity. We discuss how fundraisers can take precautions to ensure that they are handling donors with cognitive decline in an ethical and...