In our last blog on “Know Your Donor”, we’re going to talk about the Individual Donor. When it comes to individual donors, there are several types you can engage, each with different motivations, giving capacities and ways to connect.

Here’s a quick breakdown to help you understand and tailor your approach:

  • One-Time Donors – these are people who give once. Their giving is often triggered by a campaign, event or a personal connection.
  • Recurring Donors – people who give monthly or annually, often via debit order or online platforms. These donors are really valuable because they provide reliable income and are more likely to stay loyal.
  • Major Donors – individuals who give large amounts. For your org, this might be R10,000+, depending on your scale.
  • Passion-Driven Donors – people who give because they care deeply about your cause, e.g., former beneficiaries, volunteers, community members and even your own staff
  • members.
  • Peer-to-Peer Fundraisers – these individuals will raise money for you by asking their own networks to give (birthdays, marathons, etc.)
  • Legacy Donors – individuals who leave a gift to your NPO in their will.
  • Workplace Giving Donors – employees who give through their company payroll or matched-giving schemes.

Remember, individuals are not motivated to give by graphs showing how many beneficiaries are impacted by what you do. They are impacted by the individual beneficiary stories and the emotions demonstrated through your storytelling.

If an individual can relate to and emotionally connect with your beneficiary, then they will want to help you make life better in whatever way they can.

Need some help with storytelling? Get in touch – our team are great storytellers and we’d be honoured to help you share your story effectively.