Ep 219| Stop guessing: What donors REALLY want before year-end

Send us Fan MailA simple donor survey is the closest thing you will get to reading your supporters' minds, yet the answers you get are rarely what you expectDonors are sitting on insights most nonprofits never think to look for. Cara Augspurger, our field correspondent and CEO of Grace Care Center Foundation, joins Jena Lynch to share what happened when her team surveyed hundreds of donors ahead of Giving Season, and what the answers revealed about messaging, trust, and the surprising link between volunteering and giving.And brace yourself - your best donors may not understand your organization as well as you think.What You'll LearnHow to build and segment a short, anonymous donor surveyWhy loyal donors can still misunderstand your programsHow the volunteer experience shapes donor trustFour steps to launch a donor survey before year-endResources and LinksConsolidate today’s framework with a helpful in-depth Donorbox blog: Surveying Your Donors, How to Do It Right - you can find it hereAbout the HostsCara Augspurger has been a nonprofit leader and fundraiser since 1996. As President and CEO of Grace Care Center Foundation and a founding board member, she brings decades of hands-on experience to conversations spanning annual fundraising, capital campaigns, donor stewardship, and relationship building. A Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) and University of Illinois graduate, Cara previously served as a fundraising coach at Donorbox, where she helped nonprofits connect the dots between strategy and results.Jena Lynch, Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox, specialises in donor stewardship, retention, and peer-to-peer fundraising. She works closely with nonprofit teams to strengthen donor relationships and build practical systems that support long-term growth. As the anchor of The Nonprofit Podcast, she keeps strategy clear, steady, and actionable.Chapters00:00 – Introduction: Why Donor Surveys Matter01:15 – Timing Your Survey Before the Fall Push03:08 – Survey Mechanics: Length, Platforms, and Subject Lines06:27 – Key Questions to Include in Your Survey08:23 – How Well Do Donors Know Your Programs?12:27 – Where Volunteering Meets Giving16:35 – The Power of One Open Question19:59 – 4 Action Steps to Launch Your Donor Survey22:42 – Wrap-Up & Final ThoughtsAbout DonorboxDonorbox is a trusted online and on-location fundraising platform that helps nonprofits raise more. With easy-to-use donation forms, powerful donor management tools, and features designed to grow recurring giving, we have helped 100,000-plus organizations process more than $4 billion in donations worldwide.Enjoying the show? Subscribe for more practical fundraising strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help your nonprofit grow sustainably.The information provided in this series is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Please consult with a professional advisor for specific guidance.Support the show