None of my donors are meeting with me!
“None of my donors are meeting with me!”
I have been hearing from a lot of fundraisers about crickets: All year they have been reaching out to portfolio donors, only to receive silence or the message of “I don’t need to meet.” This is not the end of the relationship, it just means it might be time to run a sprint of new activity. Not every donor wants (or needs) a coffee chat or a visit to your facility, and many, especially introverted donors, are looking for meaningful connection without the social tax of constant meetings. In addition, many donors (and fundraisers) are feeling overwhelmed by the constant barrage of news and world events. The capacity for engagement is simply lower.
Below are strategies that create impact, demonstrate accountability, and keep donors connected without defaulting to in-person or virtual sit-downs.
1. Tell the Story in Their Inbox (or Mailbox)
· Concise updates: Two paragraphs, plain language, real results and real challenges. Instead of newsletters, consider a “two-point update” that is a low lift to draft and easy to read.
· Impact visuals: One strong photo or short infographic can replace a 45-minute meeting.
2. Digital Storytelling They Can Consume Privately
· 5-minute video: Post on your homepage; cover your mission, key numbers, and one emotional story.
· 90-second video: Using your phone, give one update and a custom message to the donor. Send via text.
· Podcast snippets or audio notes: A voice memo from your CEO or program lead can feel intimate and personal, without requiring a live call.
· Interactive dashboards: Let donors click into outcomes and financials at their own pace.
3. Radical Transparency
· Financial Transparency tab: Budgets and simple explanations of how funds are used.
· Annual “report card”: One page showing promises made vs. promises kept.
· Behind-the-scenes notes: A short Q&A with staff about what challenges they are facing.
4. Give Donors Control
· Ask directly: “How would you like to hear from us? Email, video update, postal mail?”
· Offer options: “We’re fundraising for next year. Here’s what we’ve accomplished. Might you want to receive next year’s plan by email, video, or at a visit with me and our CEO?”
5. Create Connection Without Gatherings
· Private briefings by mail/email: Quarterly “insider notes” written like a letter to a friend.
· Peer-to-peer sharing: Let donors know how their support connects with others (e.g., “three families joined you this quarter in funding…”).
· Exclusive pre-release content: Share an advance copy of a report, campaign, or story before it’s public.
· Be a little vulnerable: In a personal message, share that you are not hearing back from a lot of donors, and a simple reply to your note with the words, Got it! will help you keep going to support your mission.
6. Highlight: Engaging Introverted Donors
Introverted donors are often deeply thoughtful, loyal, and capable of transformative giving but they are put off by endless galas, visits, coffees, and check-ins. To connect with them:
· Minimize social tax: Offer solo experiences like reading materials, short videos, quiet on-site visits at their discretion.
· Value privacy: Make it clear that they can stay involved without being spotlighted or pressured to network.
· Lead with substance: Share both numbers and authentic stories; introverts often look for depth over small talk.
· Give opt-outs: Explicitly allow them to say “no meetings” while still staying fully informed and valued.
7. Remember: Real > Polished
Polished decks and scripted meetings aren’t the point. Be brief, be candid, and make it easy for them to say yes to staying engaged, even if it looks different than previous years.
Many donors want to give (and sometimes even give more), but they don’t want the price of admission to be endless meetings. By offering multiple paths to engagement, especially for private or introverted supporters, you’ll unlock deeper, quieter, and more consistent generosity.