Five Ideas for Motivating Donors - Part 2

A significant portion of any nonprofit’s budget goes toward equipment, goods, and services. However, many organizations overlook creative ways to fund these essential budget items, freeing up resources for other strategic needs and projects.

This blog series highlights five ideas to engage and motivate donors using simple yet effective tools. Today’s focus: Wish lists work!

Why Wish Lists Matter

Maybe your child care area needs a new changing table, or your staff kitchen microwave has seen better days. Perhaps your front entry walkway is crumbling. Day-to-day operational needs add up quickly, and donors can help meet them!

How to Make Wish Lists Work for Your Nonprofit

✅ Develop a Wish List: Identify 10-15 priority program or operational needs for the month or quarter. These could include:

• Office equipment (e.g., a copier or printer)
• Program supplies (e.g., snacks for an after-school program)
• Facility repairs (e.g., sidewalk concrete replacement)
• Essential services (e.g., professional cleaning or landscaping)

✅ Include Items at Various Price Points: Offer a range of giving opportunities so donors at every level can participate. Many donors love funding tangible needs and seeing the direct impact of their gifts.

✅ Make Your Wish List Accessible: Share your list in multiple places, such as:

• Your website (in an easy-to-update section)
• Social media posts
• Email newsletters

✅ Communicate Your Needs Clearly: A wish list is only effective if people see it! Make sure to:

• Regularly mention it in communications
• Include a direct link in donor emails and social media posts

✅ Keep It Fresh: Update your list at least monthly or quarterly. When creating your annual budget, identify which operational needs could be good candidates for the list.

✅ Acknowledge and Celebrate Donors: When donors fulfill wishlist items, highlight their generosity through:

• Personalized thank-you messages
• Social media shout-outs
• Impact stories showing how their gift made a difference

Wish Lists in Action

Beyond individual giving, wish lists open the door for businesses and industries to participate in philanthropy.

For example, a nonprofit summer camp in the Midwest received a donation of 50+ pounds of ground beef from a cattle rancher to feed campers. This relieved a major budget expense for the organization while giving the donor a meaningful way to contribute.

The Power of Wish Lists

Wish lists are a simple yet powerful way to:
✨ Build deeper relationships with donors
✨ Encourage first-time givers to get involved
✨ Provide businesses with unique ways to give

Wish lists work—so put yours into action and watch generosity grow!

Tim