8 Questions You Should Ask to Increase Funder Engagement
- Feb 8, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 17, 2025
In uncertain economies, competition increases for charitable dollars from both institutional and individual donors. Funders desire to invest in demonstrate positive community impact. At the same time, limited staffing resources makes fundraising seem overwhelming.
What if there was another way to grow your revenues, without having to work so hard to attract new funding sources? What if you could leverage your existing funder relationships and keep them much longer? What if your funders were increasing their gifts to your organization year over year?
Last week, SureImpact president, Sheri Chaney Jones was joined by fundraising expert, TJ McGovern, president of the McGovern Consulting Group to discuss the future of fundraising and how to use impact data to build mutually-beneficial relationships with your funders.
Watch this on-demand webinar to learn more about:
Fundraising trends in 2023
The gaps between what we want from donors and what they want from us
Aligning organizational capabilities with donor’s convictions to achieve significant, sustainable, societal impact
How to ask donors to give through your organization rather than merely to it
Strategies for leveraging data to demonstrate how you’re driving social change
Also, here are eight questions to ask your funders to increase engagement and strengthen your relationship with them:
How can we be better stewards of your giving?
How can we better demonstrate the impact of your giving?
How does our stewardship compare to other organizations to which you have given?
What has been your most satisfying giving experience and what can we learn from it?
Is there anything would you like us to aspire to that we have not?
What about us has stood the test of time?
As you reflect on the service we provide, what has become passe or outdated?
What is happening in your life that you think we need to catch up on?
We also invite you to watch our on-demand webinar "The Future of Grant Funding."
One often overlooked factor that boosts funder engagement is showing how your initiative addresses systemic gaps. For example, in the context of Trading and Finance Education in Pakistan, asking funders, “How can we work together to improve financial literacy and access to trading knowledge for underserved youth?” aligns their mission with measurable, high-impact outcomes. Funders are far more likely to stay engaged when they see a clear path to sustainable economic empowerment. Thanks for sharing these thought-provoking questions!
For nonprofits managing physical fundraising events or donor appreciation gifts, logistics matter too. We've found that using custom 2XL Box fabrication for shipping event materials or thank-you packages ensures everything arrives looking professional and polished—which definitely helps with that overall engagement piece. Great read!
This was a really insightful post. Building stronger relationships with funders is clearly about more than just reporting results—it’s about asking the right questions and understanding what truly matters to them. Thoughtful conversations can help organizations demonstrate impact, strengthen trust, and create long-term partnerships. Approaches like this are valuable in many fields where communication and clarity are important. Even while balancing other responsibilities, such as academic work and occasionally looking for resources like assignment writing help uk, it’s refreshing to read practical guidance that encourages meaningful engagement and collaboration. Thanks for sharing these helpful ideas
Great interview, but if I'm being honest felt more like 'why I'm still a Calvinist' than 'Christian'. I respect that Kristen's faith tradition is important to her, and she can obviously share to the level she feels comfortable with and no more, but this was a very intellectual conversation. I'd have appreciated hearing more about Kristen's personal faith in Jesus Himself and why that is not shaken despite the attacks she's endured. top jiu jitsu gi
This is an insightful article! Asking the right questions is key to building stronger relationships and increasing engagement with funders. Being proactive, clear, and responsive can make all the difference in securing support. Just like in critical situations, having reliable help is essential—services like 24/7 Emergency Restoration Services Toronto Downtown ensure prompt response and effective solutions when you need them most. Great tips for fostering trust and efficiency!