This survey will help you evaluate your current donor relations program.  

 

Here's how it works: Award yourself the number of points associated with each answer. When you're done, add up your total score and see how you did.  

 

Good luck!

 

 

DONOR RELATIONS QUESTIONNAIRE 

 

1. Have you written a personal thank you note to a donor in the past week?

 

       YES (1)                      NO (0)

 

2. Have you called a donor in the past week to say thank you?

 

       YES (1)                      NO (0)

 

3. Has your CEO/Executive Director called a donor in the past week to say thank you?

 

       YES (1)                      NO (0)

 

4. Has a member of your board called a donor in the past week to say thank you?

 

BOARD CHAIR (2)                 

OTHER BOARD MEMBER (1)                       

NO (0)

 

5. Are your thank you letters hand-signed by a real, live person?

 

       YES (1)                      NO (0)

 

6. When your CEO/ED signs thanks you letters, how often are personal notes added?

 

ALWAYS (2)               

SOMETIMES (1)                    

SELDOM / NEVER (0)

 

7. How long after receiving a contribution is the respective thank you letter usually mailed?

 

24 HOURS (3)                       

48 HOURS (2)                     

72 HOURS (1)                       

1 WEEK (0)

 

8. Do you have a special type of letter and/or welcome kit for first-time donors?

 

       YES (1)                      NO (0)

 

9. Do you have a special type of letter for those who have increased their gifts?

 

       YES (1)                      NO (0)

 

10. Do you have a special type of letter for second or third gifts in the same year?

 

       YES (1)                      NO (0)

 

11. Do you have a special type of letter for supporters who give year after year after year?

 

       YES (1)                      NO (0)

 

12. Does your thank you letter start with something other than the traditional, "Thank you for your..." or "On behalf of..."?

 

       YES (1)                      NO (0)

 

13. Does your thank you letter include the direct contact info for a staff person who donors can call/email directly if they need anything?

 

       YES (1)                      NO (0)

 

14. Do you ask donors how they prefer to hear from you (email, work phone, home phone, etc)?

 

       YES (1)                      NO (0)

 

15. How often do you usually revise your standard acknowledgment/thank you letters?

 

       MONTHLY OR MORE FREQUENTLY (3)  

       QUARTERLY (2)

       ANNUALLY (1)

       LESS FREQUENTLY THAN ANNUALLY (0)

 

16. Do you know what is required in the acknowledgment if the gift is more than $250?

 

       YES (1)                      NO (0)

 

17. Do you send letters or reports to donors explaining what was accomplished because of their contribution?

 

       YES (1)                      NO (0)

 

18. Do you have visits with supporters and prospects without asking them for a donation?

 

       YES (1)                      NO (0)

 

19. Do you survey your supporters to find out how satisfied they are with your organization and with your treatment of them as a donor?

 

       YES (1)                      NO (0)

 

20. If you have a fundraising planning meeting with development staff, is donor relations (acknowledgment, recognition, and stewardship) part of the discussion?

 

       YES (1)                      NO (0)

 

 

HOW DID YOU DO?

25-28 points: EXCELLENT  

20-24 points: VERY GOOD

16-19 points: GOOD

12-15 points: FAIR

7-11 points: NEEDS IMPROVEMENT

0-6 points: NEEDS MUCH IMPROVEMENT

 

 

* Adapted from Janet Hedrick's book, Effective Donor Relations