I for one am thrilled that Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow this morning… bring on spring! This annual ritual, where a groundhog predicts the arrival of spring, offers some interesting lessons:
- Been there, done that. Do you sometimes feel like you’re stuck in Groundhog Day like Bill Murray was in the famous movie of the same title? If you are looking to change an outcome to a problem, you have to do something different or try something new. Small changes can lead to big dividends.
- Avoid the communications rut. No doubt that communicating with your donor base is crucial. But, just as important is ensuring your messages don’t get stuck in a rut and come off rote or insincere. When communicating with your donors be authentic and ensure you personalize them as much as possible!
- Facts, not folklore. While the tradition of this famous Phil predicting the weather is cute, it isn’t based on fact. Far from it! Punxsutawney Phil has been wrong nearly 40% of the time according to records. Building a strategic plan grounded in fact is a must.
In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing findings from a new, benchmark national study we conducted to uncover donor giving habits and preferences. The discoveries from the GiveCentral Insights on American Giving Report are sure to positively impact your strategic plan.
What other Groundhog Day lessons have you learned? We’d love to hear what you do to keep your forecast positive. Be sure to be on the lookout for the release of our donor insights report next week!
Last modified: February 2, 2016
