6 Key Types of Donors for Parishes to Know

Key types of donors for parishes to know refers to the different types of people who give to a parish, each with their own giving habits, reasons for giving, and needs for involvement. Some of these are first-time donors who need to be welcomed; recurring donors who give regularly and value consistency and recognition; major donors who give large amounts of money and need to be personally managed; lapsed donors who have stopped giving and may need to be re-engaged; and in-kind donors who give goods or services instead of money. Knowing about these types of donors helps parishes tailor their communication, build stronger relationships, and come up with better ways to raise money.

The 6 key types of donors for parishes to know are listed below.

• New Contributors: These are people who have just started giving money to the parish for the first time. They need to be welcomed with open arms, given clear information about the parish's mission, and pushed to become more involved.
• Recurring Supporters: These donors give regularly, like once a week, once a month, or once a year, giving steady financial support. They want to feel safe, valued, and informed about how their contributions are making a difference.
• Campaign-Specific Donors: These people give money in response to a specific call or campaign, like for a building project or a good cause. Their help is often only available for a short time, so keeping in touch is important to get them to give again.
• Core Benefactors: The core benefactors are the biggest donors. They give a lot of money and usually know the people in charge of the parish well. They want personalized engagement, openness, and to be a part of strategic initiatives.
• Institutional Partners: These are businesses, foundations, or community groups that help the parish by giving money, working with it, or sponsoring it. Having strong partnerships with these groups helps the parish's resources and reach more people.
• Asset-Based Givers: These donors give things like stocks, real estate, or bequests from their estates instead of cash. They often need advice on how to give effectively and may benefit from financial planning assistance from the parish or affiliated advisors.

1. New Contributors

New Contributors are people who make their first financial contribution to a parish, usually in small amounts ranging from $25 to $100. New contributors' goal is to start their involvement journey while supporting the parish mission. New Contributors are important because they are able to lead to long-term support and more involvement. Parishes welcome new donors by quickly thanking them for their gift, explaining the parish's purpose, and urging more involvement. These donors usually make small one-time contributions, but they are able to become regular contributors with the right management.

2. Recurring Supporters

Recurring Supporters are donors who give on a regular basis, like once a week, once a month, or once a year. Recurring Supporters donations provide steady income to support the parish's ongoing ministries and operations. Their goal is to create long-term stability while meeting the parish's daily needs. Recurring Supporters are important because their regular giving helps with planning finances and keeping things going. Automated donation systems or envelopes are often used to make recurring giving possible. Donations usually range from $25 to $250 per month, depending on the donor's ability and willingness to commit. Recurring Donations ongoing support shows that they have a strong bond with the parish community.

3. Campaign-Specific Donors

Campaign-Specific Donors are people who give money to projects with deadlines, like capital campaigns, mission drives, or emergency appeals. Campaign-Specific Donors job is to help with certain projects or goals that aren't part of the parish's main operations. These donors are important because they give targeted money for things like growth, repairs, or outreach. Campaign-driven engagement uses targeted updates and messages to encourage one-time or short-term gifts, which vary in amount anywhere from $100 to several thousand dollars, depending on the size of the campaign and the donor's ability to give.

4. Core Benefactors

Core Benefactors are big donors who give a lot of money (often more than $5,000 a year) and stay in touch with the parish leadership. Core Benefactors' job is to provide foundational support for big projects and parish growth or to fund important initiatives. Core Benefactors are very important because their donations have a big effect on the parish's finances and long-term goals. Core donors are kept involved by parishes through personalized stewardship, personal communication, and chances to help make decisions. Highly trustworthy, open, and thankful donors are what these organizations need.

5. Institutional Partners

Institutional Partners are groups that give parishes cash or in-kind support, such as foundations, neighborhood companies, or civic associations. Institutional Partners' goal is to encourage people in the community to work together and share resources so that everyone benefits. These partners are important for reaching more people, helping with certain programs, and making the parish more visible. Formal proposals, partnership agreements, and impact reports are all parts of engagement. Institutional partners provide a lot of different amounts of money, usually between $1,000 and over $50,000, depending on the project and the organization.

6. Asset-Based Givers

Asset-Based Givers are planned donors who give things like stocks, real estate, or bequests instead of cash. Asset-Based Givers job is to help the parish in a way that is both tax-effective and meaningful, and it's often linked to planning for long-term legacy. Asset-Based Givers are important because gifts like these can make the parish's capital or endowment resources much stronger. Parishes keep these donors by educating them, giving them financial advice, and helping them with their estate plans. Gifts based on assets are often worth a lot of different amounts. They usually start at $5,000 but do go over six or seven figures depending on the assets.

How do Parishes or Nonprofits identify Donors?

Parishes and nonprofits identify donors by looking at internal records, involvement in the community, giving history, event participation, and demographic information to find people or groups who are eligible to give. The process of identifying donors usually includes looking at past donations, keeping track of attendance and volunteer work, and using donor management software to divide and prioritize outreach. The process is automated by tools like ParishSOFT, CRMs, and giving platforms, which allow organizations to identify patterns and send messages to potential supporters that are tailored to their behavior and degree of engagement.

How do Donors help Parishes?

Donors help parishes by giving them the money they need to run their daily businesses, support ministries, pay for community outreach, and keep the church buildings in good shape. Their donations help parishes provide religious education, sacraments, charitable work, and events based on faith. Donors commonly improve parish life by volunteering, speaking out, and taking on leadership roles. It creates a community that is both spiritually and socially alive. Their help is very important for the Church's spiritual mission and its day-to-day needs.

How to Ask for Donations?

To ask for donations, be honest, clear, and focused on the mission. Start by saying what the appeal is for; "We're asking you to help with [specific need]." Bring out the effect; "Your gift will help [outcome/benefit]." Consider making it more personal: ;"You've been an important part of our parish, and your continued support means a lot." Make the request explicit: "Would you consider giving $[amount] as a gift today?" Express gratitude and outline the next step on how to ask for donations. "I appreciate you considering this opportunity to make a difference. Visit [link] to give online."

How to Thank Donors?

To thank donors, send them quick, heartfelt, personalized messages. Start with a friendly hello and a direct thank you; "Thank you for your kind gift of $[amount] to [name of parish or campaign]." Show gratitude and impact by saying, "Your support is helping us [specific outcome]." Reiterate the value by saying; "We appreciate your dedication to our community and mission." Add a personal touch in thanking donors and a promise to keep in touch; "We look forward to keeping you up to date on the difference you're making." Express gratitude in a variety of ways, such as through letters, emails, calls, or videos.

How can ParishSOFT assist Donors?

ParishSOFT can assist donors by giving them a safe, easy-to-use platform for making, managing, and keeping track of their donations. Donors are able to set up recurring gifts, see a record of their donations, and get thank-you messages on time, all of which improve their experience and trust. Donors are able to choose which funds or campaigns they want to support, so their gifts are more in line with their own goals. ParishSOFT makes giving easier and more clear by providing donor portals, tax-ready statements, and mobile access. It makes donors more engaged and satisfied.