"Stewardship is the space between the gift and the next ask."

~ Arlene Snyder, Senior Vice President, Development at Washington Hospital Center and Timothy Snyder,

Senior Vice President for Brakeley Briscoe, Inc

Everyone needs to feel appreciated; it's a fundamental human need.

But in the world of nonprofit organizations, making your donors feel truly appreciated and involved in your mission is the difference between sustained charitable giving and a one-time gift.

That is the heart & soul of EFFECTIVE STEWARDSHIP!

(You may not realize it, but even a LACK of planned stewardship is stewardship in some sense, but it's definitely NOT the way you want your partners to remember you! Strategize your Stewardship!)

So, how do you do that? How do you go BEYOND the thank you note? How do you ensure that your relationship with your supporters becomes a give-and-take partnership, rather than a "take, take, take" paradigm?

Traditionally, stewardship has been REACTIONARY - thanking a donor after they've made their gift. But, in a rapidly-changing world, nonprofits need to take stewardship to the next level. While transparency in the way a past gift is used remains an important measure of a nonprofit's stewardship, that only scratches the surface. Stewardship should be... read more

stew·ard·ship - Merriam-Webster Dictionary: 

the conducting, supervising, or managing of something;

especially : the careful and responsible management

of something entrusted to one's care

It encompasses everything we do.  Stewardship, in its many definitions, includes transparency and thoughtful, accountable use of our precious resources - gifts of treasure, gifts of time, gifts of talent and influence.  Earning our donors' trust through careful management of those resources and because of that trust, actively engaging them in the sustained support of our mission.  Good stewardship alone does not engage the donor; communicating good stewardship is essential to moving the donor from "interested" to "committed".  As Laura Fredricks shared at the Association of Fundraising Professionals San Antonio Conference in February 2011, "Stewardship is nothing but cultivation after the ask." 

RESOURCES: 

KMAC & Associates - May 2011 newsletter 

12 Stewardship Ideas to Strengthen Donor Relationships

A Donor Bill of Rights

DEVELOPED BY:

Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)

Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP)

Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)

Giving Institute: Leading Consultants to Non-Profits

ENDORSED BY:

Independent Sector

National Catholic Development Conference (NCDC)

National Committee on Planned Giving (NCPG)

Council for Resource Development (CRD) 

United Way of America 

Association of Donor Relations Professionals (ADRP) - nonprofit business league that supports the professional development of people working in the field of donor relations and stewardship.

The NonProfit Times - April 22, 2010 newsletter  

Fundraising... The Space Between The Gift And The Next Ask 

David Kilmer - Accountability Stewardship - 2008 Blackbaud Delivers presentation

Penelope Burk - Donor-Centered Fundraising - Cygnus Applied Research

KMAC Presentations 

***Don't miss this COMPLIMENTARY webinar!***

Wed, May 25, 2011

Greater Giving Webinar

"Leveraging Your Board: Achieving Thoughtful Governance"

Click here to register

Fri, Jun 10, 2011
31st Annual Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) 
DFW Philanthropy Conference
Arlington, TX
"The Philanthropic Footprint™ - A Collaborative Partnership with Community Businesses"
Click here to register

Wed, Jun 15, 2011

Coastal Bend Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)
Workshop

Corpus Christi, TX

"Relationship-Building Activities that Develop Sustainable Partners"

Thu, Jul 21, 2011

San Antonio Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)

Workshop

San Antonio, TX

Thu, Aug 11, 2011
Austin Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)

Monthly Meeting
Austin, TX
"Integrating Special Events Relationship-Building Activities with Your Development Objectives"

Click here to register