Today’s donors expect more from the charities they support. They want connection, not persuasion. They seek inspiration, not obligation.
For Canadian nonprofits navigating a complex regulatory environment — from tax receipting requirements to digital privacy laws — forging genuine, lasting relationships has never been more important. So, let’s explore how to align your strategy with today’s donors, using a fresh approach called donor engagement models.
But first, let’s discuss why nonprofits may need an alternative approach to building authentic relationships with supporters.
Understanding the modern donor
Today, donors have unlimited access to information. They’re cautious about where they give and resist being pressured toward a donation. Instead, they want to be moved by a cause aligning with their values—and they want to make that decision organically.
Building long-term support now hinges on creating authentic engagement at every point of contact. Modern fundraising strategies must focus on forming and nurturing meaningful connections.
What makes modern engagement different?
Traditional fundraising built relationships around the ask. Modern engagement builds them before it.
Canadian nonprofits, especially, must account for regulations around donor privacy, consent and stewardship, making it even more essential to use a soft, personalized approach. Instead of blindly asking for a gift right away, organizations can offer meaningful interactions that allow donors to explore, connect, and self-identify their readiness to give.
A modern engagement strategy should provide multiple entry points to your mission — whether that’s a social media post, a downloadable resource, or a QR code at an event — allowing supporters to move forward at their own pace.
The role of donor engagement models
In the free DonorPerfect e-book, "Donor Engagement Models for the Digital Age", we reimagined classic frameworks like the donor funnel, donor pyramid, and donor loyalty loop to better reflect how today’s donors interact with organizations.
What are donor engagement models?
A donor engagement model is a strategic framework that helps nonprofits organize outreach activities around a specific goal — whether that's acquiring first-time donors, growing a monthly giving program, or stewarding major gifts. Like old-fashioned models (the “sales funnel” and the “donor pyramid”), each goal is illustrated with a shape.
How do they work?
The models are your framework for a relationship-first engagement strategy. Put simply, they align your outreach with your goals.
Research shows that successful charities are purpose-driven and goal-oriented, often building their fundraising efforts around one dominant revenue strategy at a time. Nonprofits that segment and personalize their donor engagement strategies have been able to improve retention rates by up to 10 percent.
Donor engagement models empower you to segment your supporters based on their current level of connection, instead of gift amount or frequency. It also brings volunteers and advocates to the forefront, recognizing them for their gifts of time and influence.
By paying close attention to your donors’ behaviours, values, and interests, your outreach does a better job of nurturing relationships.
Choosing the right model for your organization
Each model suits a different need:
No matter which model you choose, the focus remains the same: prioritize authentic, donor-led engagement. Older fundraising models may have decades of history, but the future of philanthropy is built on trust, personalization, and inspiration.
Explore the four new donor engagement models created by DonorPerfect — and discover how to bring them to life at your organization — with our free guide, "Donor Engagement Models for the Digital Age".
Download it today and start creating engagements that are as genuine and inspiring as your mission!
