Speakers: Allan Burrows, CEO and Clare Jordan, VP - CapDev

Title:  Stewardship: The Solution to Donor Retention

Donor retention data has been dismal for years. But there is a simple solution. Let's take a deep dive into the causes and the solutions with a keen eye for solid donor stewardship.

The #1 way to capitalize on your philanthropic potential is to overcome poor donor retention rates. Only 45.5% of donors are giving more than once to the same organization, a rate that continues to decline. Stop bleeding $1.25 costs to obtain $1 from a new donor, and keep the donors you have.

Learn about changing donor relations concerns relative to donor retention; discuss the factors that led to this challenge and their impact; learn what you should be measuring and how; consider some current examples; exchange real-time ideas; reframe your messaging to better appeal to repeat donors; and consider ways to gather and use data for decision-making.

Because we know that nearly a third of all giving occurs from Giving Tuesday through year-end, with 11% in the final three days of the year, these focus points provide a year-long emphasis on donor cultivation and retention by starting now to beat the year-end scramble.

Allan Burrows, CEO

Allan Burrows has been with Capital Development Services since 1994, and president since 2006. He manages the company's marketing, operations, campaign and search divisions, and presents to dozens of conferences and board sessions every year. Allan is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill, and began his development career at the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina and at the North Carolina Child Advocacy Institute.

In his 30+ years of fundraising experience, Allan has led campaigns and development work throughout the Southeast for a broad array of nonprofits, and is experienced at working with leadership on all aspects of philanthropy. He is passionate about engaging clients and people in realizing that philanthropy is more than just “fundraising.” He is a frequently requested and dynamic speaker, known for sharing relevant and interesting stories from his own experience with CapDev clients.

A North Carolina native, Allan has served on numerous nonprofit boards over the years, including two terms with the N.C. Center for Nonprofits, and was awarded the Triad AFP Lifetime Achievement for Fundraiser of the Year in 2011.

Clare Jordan, VP

In her 16 years with CapDev, Clare’s role has grown to include not only the primary responsibility for the company’s business development, but also philanthropic research and trend tracking to enhance understanding of the social sector among our clients and the nonprofits throughout our region. Clare has given hundreds of presentations, sharing expertise in teaching philanthropy.

Having held positions in nonprofit management since the early 1990s, she has served in staff and volunteer roles in marketing and development with several nonprofits and provided consulting services to elevate the work of nonprofits for over 30 years. Her introduction to the nonprofit sector began as a student at North Carolina State University when she founded the Campus Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, still a thriving organization.

A Winston-Salem native, Clare is a graduate of N.C. State University and is an avid volunteer, including serving as Chair of N.C. State University’s Institute for Nonprofits Advisory Board; Chair of UNC School of the Arts Board of Visitors, and BRAVO! Founder & Chair; Chair of Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship at N.C. State University; as well as service on local boards including Habitat for Humanity, Crisis Control Ministries, YMCA Camp Hanes, AFP Triad Chapter, the Vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and as an ordained Elder at First Presbyterian Church, Hickory. Clare was named to the Triad Business Journal’s “40 Leaders Under 40” in 2008 and was awarded Distinguished Alumna of the Year for the College of Humanities at NC State University in 2021.