Types of donors

Each donor has unique reasons for supporting a cause: personal experiences, a sense of social responsibility, or the desire to leave a legacy. Understanding these motivations is key to designing fundraising strategies that connect and generate lasting engagement.

Organizations that use data to better understand their donors achieve significantly more effective results in their campaigns.

Shoshana Grossman, a fundraising expert, emphasizes the importance of understanding donor profiles. By identifying what motivates them, you can create strategies that increase your donations. Learn about the types of donors here:

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Individuals

These are people who decide to support a cause on their own. Payments are made through one-time donations or, if the donor is retained, recurring contributions.

• Motivations: Emotional connection with the cause and a sense of belonging to your purpose.

• Benefit: Close, lasting relationships with long-term support.

• Ideas: Make them feel part of the impact. Invite them to events or organize volunteer activities where they can get involved and see the results of their support.

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Philanthropic Foundations

They fund social projects and impactful causes. Their support is granted through calls for proposals, where submitting solid and well-documented proposals is key. This support is given through grants, awards, or fellowships.

• Motivations: Projects with clear impact aligned with their philanthropic goals.

• Benefit: Large, prestigious funding to scale projects.

• Ideas: Before submitting your proposal, research the foundation’s priorities and build relationships with their leaders to show how your project aligns with their values. Then, create a personalized report highlighting the achievements made possible by their support.

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Corporations

Companies that get involved in funding do so as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility strategy. Contributions can be made through sponsorships, cash donations, or other means.

• Motivations: Reputation and shared values with the social organization.

• Benefits: Visibility and networking opportunities for connections with the private sector.

• Ideas: Connect with companies that share an interest in your cause and present proposals that offer mutual value. Remember, support goes beyond money; you can involve their teams in mentorships or organize a joint workshop to solve a challenge faced by your social organization.

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Governmental

Government funds are granted through calls for proposals to support social projects, usually through contracts or grants with specific deadlines. It’s key to comply with the bureaucratic requirements and deadlines, maintaining efficient management and clear organization.

• Motivations: Alignment of the projects with public policies and the social coverage generated.

• Benefits: Legitimacy and the ability to scale projects, increasing the impact.

• Ideas: Participate in government social programs to integrate your projects into their public strategies. Focus on building a continuous relationship with the program managers to facilitate future funding opportunities.

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Donors are not just a source of funding; they are part of your community. By involving them, you strengthen a network of allies connected to your cause. Try these strategies and make each donor feel like a key member of your mission.

Learn more about fundraising in our course "Identify Your Ideal Donor." Watch it here.