Teaching Paper: Designing a Donor Engagement Plan

Teaching Paper: Designing a Donor Engagement Plan

Building Sustainable Relationships for Non-Profit Growth

Author: Dr. Anna Neya Kazanskaia
Publisher: NEYA Global Publishing
Journal: NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies (Teaching Papers)
Year: 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-donor-engagement-2025

Open Publication PDF →

This material forms part of the NEYA Global knowledge architecture. Institutional, organizational, professional, training, consulting, curriculum, program design, or implementation use requires an active license from NEYA Global

Explore Architecture →
Module Overview →
Request Institutional Access →


About the Paper

Donor engagement is central to sustainable fundraising and long-term non-profit success. This Teaching Paper presents a structured donor engagement plan, guiding organizations through donor segmentation, communication strategies, engagement activities, impact reporting, and feedback mechanisms. It emphasizes building reciprocal relationships through consistent communication, recognition, and participation opportunities. A case study illustrates how a health NGO increased donor retention through tailored strategies and transparent reporting. Reflection questions and practical tips make the framework adaptable for different organizational contexts, bridging academic insights with practical tools for practitioners and students.

Key Topics:

  • Donor segmentation and tailored engagement strategies
  • Communication methods and consistency
  • Donor recognition and participation activities
  • Impact reporting and transparency
  • Feedback mechanisms and continuous improvement
  • Case study on improving donor retention

Academic Value:

This Teaching Paper contributes to the literature on relationship management in the non-profit sector by providing a replicable framework for donor engagement. It integrates strategic planning principles with applied donor retention practices, offering value for both academic contexts and organizational development. Designed for use in classrooms, training, and practice, it supports capacity building in sustainable donor relationship management.

References

Bryson, J. M. (2018). Strategic planning for public and nonprofit organizations. John Wiley & Sons.

Drucker, P. F. (1990). Managing the non-profit organization: Principles and practices. HarperCollins.

Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Donor Cultivation for Major Gifts. NEYA Global Publishing.
https://doi.org/10.64357/donor-cultivation-major-gifts-2025

Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Fundraising Innovations. NEYA Global Publishing.
https://doi.org/10.64357/fundraising-innovations-2025

Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Engaging Major Donors: Strategies for Building Sustainable Non-Profit Partnerships. NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies.
https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-donors-2025

Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships in Non-Profit Fundraising: Strategies for Sustainable Collaboration. NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies.
https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-corporate-2025

Patton, M. Q. (2011). Developmental evaluation: Applying complexity concepts to enhance innovation and use. Guilford Press.

Sargeant, A., & Shang, J. (2017). Fundraising principles and practice. John Wiley & Sons.
https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119228974

https://neyaglobal.com/journal-nonprofit/teaching-paper-designing-a-donor-engagement-plan
339
September 10, 2025