DiscoverPurpose & Profit Club® – The Nonprofit Fundraising & Marketing Podcast167: The Retention Wall: Why Nonprofits Struggle to Keep Donors (and How to Fix It)
167: The Retention Wall: Why Nonprofits Struggle to Keep Donors (and How to Fix It)

167: The Retention Wall: Why Nonprofits Struggle to Keep Donors (and How to Fix It)

Update: 2025-10-14
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Getting new donors feels exciting, new names, new gifts, fresh energy. But if you can’t keep them, you’re stuck on the hamster wheel.

In this episode, I talk about the retention wall, why most nonprofits struggle to keep donors giving year after year, and how to fix it. We’ll unpack why first-time donors ghost you, what for-profit brands get right about loyalty, and the exact mindset + strategy shifts you need to turn one-time givers into lifelong supporters. If you’ve ever wondered why donors don’t come back, or felt frustrated that your list keeps growing but revenue doesn’t, this is the episode that will change how you think about fundraising forever.

Topics:

  • What is the retention wall, and why do most nonprofits hit it
  • Why donor acquisition without retention is a losing game
  • The psychology of why donors don’t give again
  • Simple ways to create loyalty and connection after the first gift
  • How to measure retention (and what numbers actually matter)
  • Stories and examples of organizations breaking through the wall


For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here.

Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Combining robust, easy-to-use technology with people-powered support and training, Bloomerang empowers nonprofits to work efficiently, improve supporter relationships, and grow their donor and volunteer bases. Learn more here.

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167: The Retention Wall: Why Nonprofits Struggle to Keep Donors (and How to Fix It)

167: The Retention Wall: Why Nonprofits Struggle to Keep Donors (and How to Fix It)

Christina Tzavaras Edwards