“When the pandemic lockdown began in March … some leaders at art organizations felt uncomfortable reaching out to donors at such a terrible, unsettled time,” writes Emily Wilson in Monday’s (11/23) San Francisco Classical Voice. “Marlah Bonner-McDuffie, vice president of development at League of American Orchestras, says that’s understandable—but not the way to go. ‘The biggest mistake I’m seeing colleagues make is to think about pausing or decreasing or stopping contact,’ she said…. But this is the time to stay in touch, Bonner-McDuffie says. She advises remembering that donors’ loyalty to your organization hasn’t changed, and she suggests … asking how they’re doing—and genuinely listening to the response. And check in with donors about what they think about your organization’s direction…. This approach works, says Trine Sorensen, a board member of both the League of American Orchestras and the San Francisco Symphony. She says people at the symphony called her and her husband to ask what they thought of the choices the organization was making…. Sorensen agrees with Bonner-McDuffie that this is exactly the time to reach out to donors—and to think about what your organization can do.” The article includes interviews with leaders at several nonprofits.
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