The Purposeful Donor and the Engaging Donor

We recently covered The Enneagram personality test, a personality test based on nine personality types. Following the points of a nine-sided star polygon, pastors can use this personality test to find out about potential donor personalities and opportunities for giving.

Identifying certain personality traits your donors have will help you grow them on their donor journey and make their faith a priority.

Let’s look at two of the donor personality traits: Types One and Two. Or, as they are more commonly known, the Purposeful Donor and the Engaging Donor.

Type One: The Purposeful Donor

These strong personalities are principled and purposeful. They live to make the world a better place and want to leave this earth with a positive legacy. Here are some ways to recognize the Purposeful Donor:

Most Notable Traits:

• Self-controlled
• Perfectionist
• Always looking for reform
• Constantly improving their surroundings
• Advocates for change
• Humanitarians
• Known for always showing up

Example Character: The outstanding leader in the Bible, Moses, can be considered a Type One. He was always on some kind of mission, whether as prince of Egypt, a shepherd, or a leader of the Children of Israel.

Tips for Appealing to the Purposeful Donor

How do you as pastors and leaders make giving to Purposeful Donors a joy? Here are some practical tips.

Be Direct

When asking for funding, don’t be vague. Tell them exactly what you need, when, and which legacy it will support.

Appeal to Their Sense of Urgency

Demonstrate an immediate need with a sense of urgency and always update your newsletters!

Be Quick to Adapt

Digital giving platforms and easy fundraising options are your best friends.

Ask for Feedback

Hire a social network manager to communicate with your Purposeful Donors.

Encourage Their Personal Legacy

Include them in your sponsor appreciation program and always show your gratitude.

Want to find out what more you can do for your donors? Read our blog and pastor resources for practical tips and suggestions.

Type Two: The Engaging Donor

Generous and demonstrative, these types aim to please others. However, be aware that they can be possessive. On the upside, natural selflessness motivates them. Church pastors must help them find the balance between all the elements for spiritual growth.

Most Notable Traits:

• “Heart of gold”
• Emotionally driven
• Caring
• Sentimental
• Empathetic
• Natural around people
• Enjoy hands-on outreach events
• Often busy with social events

Tips for Appealing to the Engaging Donor

The following tips will be useful when approaching the Engaging type of donors to give and support your church:

Encourage Their Natural Drive

Ask them if they want to get involved with hands-on help. Encourage their emotionally driven personality to get in touch with others. Invite them to take part in the activities that they might find enjoyable, and where they can best serve.

Keep Them Updated and Feeling Like Part of the Church

Publish monthly and annual donor newsletters with the needs and programs of the church. Send personal greetings to show you care. Always treat them as individuals, not just one of the dozens of donors to the church. For example, send a LinkedIn greeting to congratulate them on their work anniversary.

Invite Them to Speaking Engagements

They could share their insights with other members of the church or community or teach a skill during one of your church leadership workshops.

Value Their Time

Always ask permission to subscribe them to your church emails—never just send them materials without their consent.

Never Take Them for Granted

Stay connected to them through visually appealing content and provide ways for them to get involved without sacrificing too much of their time.

Appeal to them through a creative outreach event.

Consider an end-of-the-year dinner gala or an art auction. This will encourage their philanthropic side and enable them to display their passionate personality.

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The Purposeful and Engaging Donors are both emotionally driven, socially conscious folks. Learn how to appeal to their natural positivity and desire to see the world improve. For more good ideas for church outreach events to grow your donors, check out our latest blogs.

How DonorWerx Can Help

Remember, no matter what the donor types are in your congregation, your executive pastors and leaders must treat all as individuals. To assist your church leaders in fundraising, we at DonorWerx have created online courses, plans, and outlines for your donor journeys.

The most successful pastors don’t do all the outreach alone. They look for experienced partners and collaborate with folks who are at the forefront of church technology. This enables them to plan for the future, stay relevant, and offer quality services.

To view our digital library that was created specifically for churches, you can visit our website and read many blog articles. Or schedule a Discovery Call with us at DonorWerx today to learn about improving your donor strategies.

Bible Verses for Leaders

“…he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.” Luke 22:26

“Yet it shall not be so among you but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant” Matthew 20:26

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Suggested Email Teaser: 

In this article, we continue our overview of the Enneagram test adapted for donor personalities. We’ll identify the differences (or similarities) between each donor. Remember, you must treat every donor uniquely, especially when taking them on the donor journey. In this article, let’s examine two specific donor types: the Purposeful Donor and the Engaging Donor. Do you recognize any of the traits amongst your congregation?