The Build Good Fundraising Podcast

#103: Live from Summit: Building Trust—The Antidote To Donor Fatigue & Declining Retention, with Mike Duerksen

35 snips
Jul 2, 2025
A live summit conversation about donor trust as the sector’s vital asset. They explore shifting from one-way persuasion to a flywheel of autonomy, competence, and connection. Stories and data reveal why acquisition without retention fails. Practical ideas include listening experiments, genuine engagement, warm thanks, and clear reporting to earn long-term support.
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INSIGHT

Giving Is Identity, Not A Purchase

  • Neuroscience shows giving activates brain areas tied to identity and family, not buying.
  • Philanthropy is an autobiographical act linked to self and legacy.
ADVICE

Build A Donor Flywheel

  • Build a flywheel: listen, engage, ask, celebrate, report back.
  • Treat the ask as one part of a relationship-focused process, not the whole job.
ADVICE

Pair Data With Donor Conversations

  • Combine data analysis with direct conversations to learn why donors behave as they do.
  • Use surveys and one-to-one talks to raise the resolution of your hypotheses.
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