Q: I recently accepted a development position at an organization that implemented the model a couple of years ago. The organization had successful Ask Events, but there has since been no Follow-Up or contact with those donors due to personnel changes.

I am now responsible for putting on an Ask Event^™ breakfast and have been trying to schedule Point of Entry^® Events and regain some ground with previous donors. However, I am finding it difficult to make any progress. Our organization is in a small town, and it appears that everyone I talk to has heard about our lack of communication with donors and is hesitant to get involved.

Any suggestions on how to regain the trust of the community and how to approach this difficult situation?

Cindy in Illinois

A: I recommend that you get back in touch with your donors by implementing a Know-Thy-Donor Program^™. Your status as a new staff member at the organization serves as an excellent reason for calling and getting to know your donors. You can explain it by simply saying that you are new to the organization and are looking for some feedback about how the organization can better tell its story in the community. This is a good opportunity for you personally to learn about your donors' interests and preferences and to reconnect them to your organization's great mission and work.

We have a free article available to E-New$ subscribers with detailed instructions for carrying out a Know-Thy-Donor Program. To access the article, "Designing a Know-Thy-Donor Program," simply go to the "white papers" link in any issue of the Benevon E-New$ and click on that link to go to the "White Papers by Terry Axelrod" page. That page will give you the option of requesting any of the white papers we have published thus far. After selecting the white paper you are looking for, you will be e-mailed a link to the article within forty-eight hours.

In addition to the Know-Thy-Donor Program, I also strongly recommend that you hold regular Point of Entry Events to educate and inspire new people about your organization's work and Free Feel-Good Cultivation Events^™ to reconnect and re-inspire your existing donors.

Finally, I recommend that you come to our 101 Workshop with a team and let us customize the model to your organization and coach your team throughout the process.

Terry