Providing prospects with a wide variety of engagement opportunities is critical to stemming leaks once they reach the cultivation stage of the development cycle. Here is a summary of some broad themes as well as some concrete examples of engagement strategies that many of our interviewees have used in the past.

1. Calling donors just to say thanks

A very simple concept but a great way to engage donors as well as the volunteers who do the calling. Cystic Fibrosis Canada has staff and volunteers call higher-level donors simply to say thank you for their gift. And The YMCA-YWCA National Capital Region holds an annual Thank-a-Thon to do the same thing.

2. Creating opportunities for people to volunteer at the organization

Finding ways for people to involve themselves with the work and mission of your organization is a great engagement tool. For example, check out the Ronald McDonald House‘s Dinner at Home program that gives companies or other groups the chance to cook dinner for House residents. Another example is York University‘s innovative Ready…Set…Mentor! program. Inspired by the speed dating concept, this program involves 50 of York’s most recognized alumni providing five-minute, one-on-one “speed mentoring” sessions to current students.

3. Holding special events

Creating a variety of events, big or small, fundraising or otherwise, that can help people better get to know you, your organization and others involved with it, is a popular engagement mechanism. The key with events is to not do so many that it overwhelms either your staff or the people you are inviting and to create a variety of different kinds that appeal to different segments of your prospect pool.

4. Developing tools to regularly communicate with prospects

Letting people know what is going on with your organization is crucial to engaging them with you and shouldn’t be ad hoc. Every organization we spoke to has a variety of vehicles, from newsletters to annual reports, that let donors and prospects know what is going on.

5. Making those who already support you feel special

Creating events or programs for those who are already close to you is a great way to further develop your relationship with them. For example, the Art Gallery of Ontario has created the Curators’ Circle Program, which has a variety of components. One is a regular invitation to pre-opening receptions and viewings for exhibitions and special presentations.

6. Asking for advice and guidance

Asking people for their advice and counsel can be a simple but very effective way to engage them in the organization. Whether that advice is related to your organizational priorities or fundraising strategies, this approach can go a long way to introducing your organization to someone new or making an existing relationship closer. YMCA-YWCA National Capital Region used this strategy by inviting people of interest to share their thoughts, advice and guidance about their campaign.

7. Asking for help

Similar to the concept of asking for advice and guidance, involving current donors and volunteers in your relationship-building work can be incredibly powerful. The AGO often asks their volunteers to act as “hosts” at special events, giving them a purposeful role at the event. They encourage those closest to the Gallery to bring someone new to an event and introduce them to the AGO.

This article originally appeared in KCI’s Philanthropic Trends Quarterly (2011: Issue 1) and is reprinted with permission.