Donor Relations Group

Words like this mean everything. 💚

Thank you to everyone who joined Lynne's session at in San Diego!

We're so grateful for the warm reception and kind feedback. You're the reason we keep doing this work.

If you’re new to donor relations, it can feel like everyone’s speaking a different language.

That’s why we’re launching the Donor Relations Accelerator Bootcamp.

Designed for those new to the donor relations world, this four-week, eight-hour program will equip you with the foundation, frameworks, and confidence you need to learn the industry and hit the ground running.

You’ll walk away understanding the Four Pillars of Donor Relations, how to build key internal partnerships, how to measure your impact, and how to create a real plan for long-term success. ✍️

Whether you’re brand new to the field or onboarding someone who is—this is the training we wish had always existed.

We've spent decades learning and refining these lessons. Now, we're sharing them with you.

📅 September 10 – October 1, 2026 | Live Online Training

Register today: https://www.donorrelations.com/donor-relations-accelerator

Honoring donor intent starts with knowing your funds. 🔎

Regular fund audits are an essential part of stewarding donor gifts well, and DRG is here to help you do just that.

DRG has helped organizations flag thousands of funds with untapped potential, representing millions of dollars in budgetary impact.

Our comprehensive fund audit reviews your funds through both a compliance and donor relations lens, then delivers detailed findings, immediately actionable steps, and a clear roadmap—without pulling your team away from their mission.

Well-managed funds are the key to building trust and credibility with your donors, and we want to help you get there!

Learn more about our customizable fund audit: https://www.donorrelations.com/fundaudits

There are so many amazing opportunities on the DRG Job Board!

Here are a few openings worth exploring:

👉 Director of Alumni & Donor Relations | Empire State University SUNY (Saratoga Springs, NY)

👉 Director, Donor Engagement | Foundation for Jewish Camp (Remote)

👉 Vice President of Development & External Relations | People's Health Clinic (Park City, UT)

👉 Associate Director of Donor Recognition & Experience | UConn Foundation (Storrs, CT)

👉 Associate Director, Donor Relations | George Washington University (Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.)

👉 Director, Donor Fund Compliance | George Washington University (Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.)

Whether you're ready for your next step or just curious what's out there, the DRG Job Board has something for donor relations professionals at every stage of their career.

Explore all of the openings at https://www.donorrelations.com/job-board.

What actually makes alumni want to come back and engage with your institution even after the signature event ends?

Lynne Wester and Jose Lopez from Almabase will unpack why alumni engagement can’t survive on events alone anymore and what institutions are doing instead.

We’ll discuss what creates genuine belonging, a stronger alumni connection, and how that eventually shapes long-term fundraising.

Come with your questions, ideas, and experiences. This is designed to be a highly conversational, peer-to-peer discussion with practical takeaways you can actually use.

👉 Designing Alumni Communities People Actually Return To | June 17 | 1:00 PM ET

Register today: https://watch.getcontrast.io/register/almabase-inc-designing-alumni-communities-alumni-actually-return-to utm_source=lynn&utm_medium=drg&utm_campaign=webinars_q2

When’s the last time a piece of direct mail made you feel something? 📬

Direct mail still works—it just gets treated like a transaction instead of an experience. Your donors might read the mail, but will they remember it?

In our upcoming webinar, we’re showing you how to turn your mail pieces into experiences that inspire action, using principles from behavioral science and storytelling that resonate with your donors.

Join us for:

💌 The Underutilized Tool: How to Create Direct Mail Donors Actually Want to Read

🗓️ June 30 at 1:00 PM ET

Your donors are ready to read something worth remembering.

Register at: https://drgmerch.myshopify.com/products/the-underutilized-tool-how-to-create-direct-mail-donors-actually-want-to-read

The results are in! ✏️

Last month, we asked which Pillar of Donor Relations needs the most love at your organization—and you gave us your honest answers.

Stewardship took the top spot at 42%, followed by Engagement at 26%, Acknowledgement at 21%, and Recognition at 11%.

See yourself in one of these numbers? We'd love for you to join us and give every pillar the love it deserves at one of our upcoming Four Pillars Conferences:

📍 Winnipeg, Manitoba | October 7-8 — including a full stewardship, reporting, and recognition workshop built for the realities Canadian teams are navigating

📍 Boston, MA | November 4-6 — a deep dive into the Four Pillars of Donor Relations and the Four Pillars of Donor Communications

Register today: https://www.donorrelations.com/drgevents

Some of the most meaningful professional growth happens in community, alongside people doing the same work, navigating the same questions, and figuring out the hard stuff together.

If that's been calling your name, you've still got time to join us.

Applications for our cohort programs close tomorrow, June 5:

✨ Distinguished Leaders Program: For seasoned pros already in management roles who want to sharpen their leadership skills.

✨ Rising Stars Program: For donor relations professionals with 3+ years of experience who are ready to grow their skillset, own their voice, and step into leadership roles.

Both groups are small and intentional, led by our team of experts, and designed to spark deeper thinking, stronger leadership, and lasting professional connections.

Pick the one that fits where you are. We’d love to save you a seat!👇

Apply today: https://www.donorrelations.com/lx

72% of nonprofits are giving acknowledgements their own moment—and we love to see it! 💚

This means that more donors are opening something that exists purely to say thank you. There’s no tax language or anything transactional to wade through. Just genuine recognition of the impact their gift made.

Every donor deserves to feel seen, and this number shows that organizations are leaning into that more than ever. Let’s keep it up! 👏

See more stats from The 2025 Pulse Report: https://www.donorrelations.com/2025-pulse-report