Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Thursday, December 17, 2026
3pm – 4:15pm Eastern
To Register With The Recording: $135
To Register Without The Recording: $95
Most nonprofits spend enormous effort acquiring new donors while losing a significant percentage of the donors they already have. This webinar will show you practical strategies to increase donor retention, strengthen donor loyalty, steward donors effectively, and re-engage lapsed supporters.
Acquiring new donors is important, but keeping the donors you already have is one of the most cost-effective ways to grow charitable revenue. Yet many nonprofits struggle with declining donor retention, increasing numbers of lapsed donors, and limited staff capacity to build meaningful donor relationships.
Join us for this practical webinar designed to help nonprofit professionals strengthen donor loyalty, improve retention rates, and re-engage supporters who have stopped giving. You’ll learn proven strategies to build lasting donor relationships, create meaningful stewardship plans, identify donors at risk of lapsing, and develop practical re-engagement campaigns that encourage renewed support.
Whether you’re a one-person development office or part of a larger fundraising team, you’ll leave with actionable ideas you can implement immediately to improve donor retention and maximize the lifetime value of your supporters.
Agenda:
The State of Donor Retention
- Why donor retention and stewardship matters more than ever.
- Understanding donor retention rates and lifetime donor value.
- Common reasons donors stop giving.
Building Strong Donor Relationships
- Creating a stewardship plan that fits your organization’s capacity.
- Moving beyond the standard thank-you letter.
- Communicating impact through stories, outcomes, and meaningful updates.
- Segmenting stewardship for first-time, recurring, mid-level, major, and legacy donors.
Identifying At-Risk Donors
- Recognizing warning signs before donors lapse.
- Using your donor database to identify retention opportunities.
- Prioritizing stewardship efforts for maximum impact.
Re-Engaging Lapsed Donors
- Strategies for reconnecting with former supporters.
- Designing effective reactivation campaigns.
- Personalizing outreach to encourage renewed giving.
- Knowing when to continue cultivating and when to move on.
Improving Retention with Limited Staff
- High-impact stewardship ideas for small development teams.
- Leveraging technology and automation while maintaining a personal touch.
- Building a sustainable stewardship calendar that works year-round.
Common Mistakes That Hurt Donor Retention
- Communication missteps that weaken donor relationships.
- Overlooking stewardship opportunities after a gift is made.
- Focusing exclusively on donor acquisition while neglecting existing supporters.
Who Should Attend:
This course is designed for nonprofit executives, development directors, annual giving professionals, donor relations staff, advancement professionals, grant managers, board members, and fundraising professionals who want to strengthen donor relationships, improve donor retention, and build long-term donor loyalty.
Testimonials:
Thank you for your guidance and patience. – Pablo, Otero County NM
Absolutely stunning presentation yesterday. – Dan, Protect Our Water
A great Grant Writing Class 101! – Cheryl, Tulane University
Keep up the great work. Really glad I was able to join today. – Anna, Community Bridges
Thanks so much for an amazing Webinar. So much info there. I’ve already sent my notes to the fundraisers but I am glad they will be getting your recording! – Diana, St. Joseph Center
Thank you for your time and effort teaching this course – I am really enjoying participating with other ‘students’! – Liz, AFTD
GREAT CLASSES! – Karen, Chicago Urban League
Instructor:
Bill Edelstein has trained thousands of nonprofit professionals and public-sector employees through practical, results-oriented webinars on fundraising, grant writing, and nonprofit management. He also serves as a nonprofit consultant and adjunct faculty member at Hunter College.