The importance of tracking donor and volunteer data

Communicating with your organization’s supporters is key to strengthening their connection to your mission. But without a full picture of your supporters, you may miss opportunities to engage more deeply with them. That’s why it’s so important not only to track donor and volunteer data, but also to consider both when communicating with your supporters.

Here are three specific types of donor and volunteer data to track:  

1. Track your donors’ complete giving history

When we think of donors, we tend to think of those who make direct financial gifts. But contributions can also come in the form of in-kind gifts. When you’re as consistent in recording and acknowledging in-kind gifts as you are with other gifts, you’ll better understand the full scope of an individual’s or organization’s support.

2. Record volunteer time

With integrated donor and volunteer data, you’ll benefit from an even more comprehensive view of a supporter’s involvement. And that way, you can target your communications more effectively. For example, you can include a segment in your year-end appeal for constituents who both volunteer and donate, and tailor the message accordingly.

3. Document personal interactions

Unless one-on-one interactions with your donors are documented, they won’t serve your organization in the long run. If you’re using Little Green Light, you can utilize contact reports to document these valuable interactions. Get into the habit of creating a contact report immediately after meeting with a supporter, or keep your notes on hand and reserve time to enter them once a week. Be consistent with whatever schedule works best for you.

Conclusion

By tracking all of the donor and volunteer information shared in this post, you’ll be able to communicate more effectively with your supporters, whether you’re making thank you calls, sending a segmented year-end appeal, or developing other targeted communications.

Looking for ways to use donor and volunteer data to strengthen your organization’s relationships with key supporters? Join us for a free webinar on June 11, 2025, to learn how the integration between Little Green Light (donor management software) and Civic Champs (volunteer management software) can help you do just that.  Learn more and register here.