In the ever-evolving world of fundraising, creating meaningful and consistent donor engagement is more important—and more challenging—than ever. Many advancement teams find themselves juggling multiple priorities, often struggling to maintain the rhythm needed to foster strong relationships with donors.
Enter Cadence-based fundraising: a systematic approach that structures outreach into a predefined and scheduled sequence of touchpoints to connect with and engage donors and build long-term donor relationships.
At EverTrue, we’ve seen a transformative impact on fundraising with our Donor Experience Officer (DXO) programs. These DXOs, or “Cadence Natives,” are equipped from the start with advanced, cadence-based tools, preparing them for future success in roles like Major Gift Officers (MGOs). Their early exposure to structured donor engagement has sharpened their skills and given them a significant advantage in their fundraising efforts.
A recent study by EverTrue highlights the success of Cadence Natives, showing that, within their first six months as MGOs, they completed four times as many interactions and secured 2.7 times more donor meetings compared to their peers. This performance reflects how crucial early training with cadence-based systems is for driving meaningful results in donor engagement.
What is Cadence-Based Fundraising?
At its core, cadence-based engagement is a step-by-step approach that ensures no donor gets left behind. With a well-designed cadence in place, your gift officers will always know the “who, what, when, and how” of each outreach effort.
This approach is particularly valuable when managing a large or different-stage portfolio, helping fundraisers maintain polite persistence without overwhelming their prospects or their calendars.
At EverTrue, we’ve taken this concept to the next level with our latest feature in Signal—Custom Cadences.
How Custom Cadences Supercharge Donor Engagement
Custom Cadences offer an innovative way to align your outreach strategy with your fundraising goals.
Personalized Donor Journeys Create Real, Lasting Connections
Customizable outreach adds a personal touch that enhances engagement and connection. Whether they’re new prospects or long-time supporters, Custom Cadences ensure every communication feels personal, timely, and relevant to a donor’s unique interests, so you can build real connections and strengthen long-term relationships.
Brett Riley, VP of Development & Annual Engagement at Liberty University, highlights this impact: “Our end goal is for donors to feel that ‘Liberty University knows who I am’ because we take the time to listen to them and personalize our outreach. This is the beauty of what Signal enables us to achieve: enhancing personalization and consistency in our outreach.”
Data-Driven Adjustments
Signal provides real-time data and insights, allowing your team to monitor engagement and adjust cadences as needed – making it easy to refine your strategies over time to maximize impact and donor retention.
Consistent and Elevated Donor Experiences
When every donor receives timely, thoughtful communications, they feel valued throughout their journey with your organization. Custom Cadences help your team deliver that experience consistently, leading to stronger connections and, ultimately, increased giving.
Davidson College successfully used cadence-based fundraising to secure a significant gift, totaling 37% of the donor’s lifetime giving. Added to an outreach cadence in December, the donor, after consistent follow-ups and polite persistence, booked a meeting with a DXO 8 months later. That meeting led to the donor making the impactful gift.
Why Signal’s Custom Cadences are the Perfect Fit for Your Team
At EverTrue, we believe in empowering fundraisers with the tools they need to succeed. Signal’s Custom Cadences are designed with flexibility and scalability in mind, making them a perfect fit for organizations of all sizes.
Here’s why:
- Increased Efficiency With A Focus On Relationships: By automating key steps in the donor engagement process, your team can focus on what really matters: building strong relationships. By taking the guesswork out of outreach—and cutting down on manual work—fundraisers can scale their efforts without sacrificing the quality of interactions.
- Flexible and Scalable: Whether you’re looking to implement a unified strategy across your entire organization or tailor specific plans for different teams, Custom Cadences provide the flexibility to do both.
- Actionable, Data-Driven Insights: Cadences don’t just help you structure your outreach—they also provide actionable insights into what’s working and what needs adjustment, ensuring your team stays aligned with donor engagement goals.
- Work Smarter, Not Harder with Automated Workflows: Signal automatically schedules tasks and reminders, so follow-ups happen when they should. And, with automated workflows, your team can focus more on personalized interactions, scaling your efforts without sacrificing quality.
Nate Clapham, Associate VP of Collegiate Development & Annual Giving at the University of Northern Iowa, emphasizes this shift, saying, “I wanted to find a platform that our development team could live in—one that streamlines the more detailed tasks, allowing them to concentrate on high-value activities like setting up visits, conducting visits, and following up effectively. With the rollout of Signal, I believe we’re moving in that direction.”
Ready to Revolutionize Your Fundraising?
Cadence-based fundraising isn’t just a trend—it’s a proven way to strengthen donor engagement. And with Signal’s Custom Cadences, you can take this approach to new heights. If your team is ready to adopt a more structured, data-driven, and personalized approach to donor outreach, now is the time to explore how Custom Cadences can make it happen.
Let’s talk about how Signal can transform your donor engagement strategy and help you build stronger, lasting relationships.