PLAY PODCASTS
157: Old Woman Shakes Fist at Sky | How Classy May Be Hurting Your Donor Relationships
Episode 157

157: Old Woman Shakes Fist at Sky | How Classy May Be Hurting Your Donor Relationships

Charity Therapy · Birken Law Office PLLC

February 5, 202620m 31s

Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (traffic.libsyn.com) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.

Original episode page

Show Notes

Nonprofit newsflash - your donation platform might be quietly annoying your biggest donors 😬

In this episode, Meghan and I dig into some nonprofit LinkedIn drama sparked by a post from the one and only Eve Borenstein. Here's the situation:

You gave a big donation, and you received an auto-generated donation receipt from the org's donation platform. The problem? The gift acknowledgement letter and receipt are WRONG.

We break down why donor acknowledgement letters matter so much, what the IRS actually requires in those receipts for gifts over $250, and how automated systems can unintentionally damage donor trust. We also talk about the growing trend of for profit software companies promising to "handle everything" for nonprofits while missing critical compliance details. If you rely on online donation platforms, this conversation will likely make you rethink what you are outsourcing and what still needs human attention.

What You'll Learn:

  • What SHOULD be in your donor acknowledgement letters
  • How bad receipts can create donor frustration
  • Where donation platforms and tech solutions for nonprofits can fall short
  • How automation can quietly hurt your donor retention

Bottom line: Donor relationships are built on trust and gratitude. When your systems create friction instead of appreciation, even unintentionally, it can cost you future support and credibility.

Resources from this Episode

Connect with Us

Listen & Engage

Stay Connected

← All episodes of Charity Therapy