6 Types of Donor Surveys (and How AI Can Help)

What if surveys didn’t feel like another heavy lift?

Surveys don’t have to be another thing on your plate. They can clear your plate — by replacing guesswork with real insight, and by giving your donors a chance to be seen, not just stewarded.

In Part One of this series, we explored the why: Donor surveys help you uncover motivations, personalize outreach, and build lasting trust. But today’s about the how. We’ll walk through six types of donor surveys that are worth your time — and how you can use AI tools like ChatGPT to create them in minutes.

You don’t have to write these alone.AI can draft it. You decide if it’s ready.

1. New Donor Surveys: Build Trust from Day One

Send within a week of a first gift. Ask what moved them — and how they’d like to hear from you.

Why it matters: The first gift is a window. Their motivation is still fresh. When you ask the right questions early, you can build a relationship that lasts.

Ask about:

• What inspired their gift

• How they found your organization

• How the giving experience felt

• Preferred communication style (email, mail, social)

Quick-win prompt:

“Write a 4-question survey to send 1 week after a first-time donor gift. Include questions about giving motivation, first impressions, and communication preferences.”

2. Donor Satisfaction Surveys: Catch Issues Before They Snowball

Ask how things are going — and how your communication feels to them.

Why it matters: Most donors won’t tell you when something’s off. They’ll just leave. Satisfaction surveys are your early warning system.

Ask about:

• Communication frequency and tone

• If they feel informed about impact

• What they’d like more (or less) of

• How well their values align with your mission

Practical shift: If donors say they’re overwhelmed by emails? Scale back. If they want more stories? Share one win each month.

3. Lapsed Donor Surveys: Rebuild the Bridge

When a donor stops giving, don’t assume the worst. Ask.

Why it matters: Silence doesn’t always mean “no.” Sometimes it means “not now,” or “not this way.” A thoughtful survey shows you care enough to ask — and listen.

Ask about:

• Why they paused giving

• Whether their interests have shifted

• If they felt appreciated or informed

• How you could improve their experience

Re-engagement tip: If a donor cites financial strain, suggest small recurring gifts. If they mention feeling unseen, send a personal note with a story they’d care about.

4. Event Feedback Surveys: Improve What You Repeat

Don’t wait for complaints. Invite feedback right after the event.

Why it matters: What worked? What didn’t? The best time to ask is within 48 hours — while it’s still fresh.

Ask about:

• Logistics (registration, venue, access)

• Content (speakers, relevance, pacing)

• Enjoyment (atmosphere, networking)

• Suggestions for future events

One practical pivot: If people wanted more networking time? Build in longer breaks. If a speaker got rave reviews? Invite them back.

Prompt to try:

“Create a post-event feedback survey for a nonprofit gala. Include questions about logistics, content, and overall enjoyment.”

5. Program Impact Surveys: Show What’s Working

Ask donors if they feel their support is making a difference.

Why it matters: If a donor can’t see the impact, their connection fades. These surveys help you tailor reports and stories to what actually resonates.

Ask about:

• Satisfaction with a specific program

• Clarity of outcomes or results

• Suggestions for improvement

• What they want to hear more about

Example: If donors praise your reforestation work? Highlight it in reports. If they want deeper stories about beneficiaries? Start with one voice, one photo, one change.

6. Legacy Giving Surveys: Start the Quiet Conversation

Some donors want to make a lasting impact — but don’t know where to start.

Why it matters: Legacy giving doesn’t require a hard pitch. It begins with curiosity and care.

Ask about:

• Whether they’ve considered a planned gift

• What motivates them to think about legacy

• What type of support or info they’d want

• If they’d like a personal conversation

Keep it gentle: These questions open doors, not close deals. And if someone says “yes”? Offer a tailored follow-up — not a packet.

How to Use AI to Create Donor Surveys (Safely and Quickly)

Step 1: Prime your AI tool.Start with a clear description of your org: mission, programs, survey goal.

Example input: “We’re a nonprofit supporting first-gen college students. We want a survey that helps us understand why new donors gave and how they’d like to stay connected.”

Step 2: Ask for a draft.Use specific language:

“Draft a 5-question new donor survey tailored to our mission.”“Write a donor satisfaction survey with Likert scale options.”

Step 3: Review for tone and clarity.Use AI again to refine the questions:

“Rephrase these questions to sound more human and aligned with donor trust.”

Step 4: Safeguard privacy.Never paste in real donor data. Use placeholders like [DonorName] or [GiftAmount]. Always check your CRM’s privacy settings before integrating survey tools.

Step 5: Test and tweak.Send to a small segment first. Watch response rates. Adjust as needed.

Want help knowing if your org is ready for AI at all?

Start here.

Download the AI Organizational Readiness Assessment Guide

Before you dive into AI-generated surveys, make sure your nonprofit is set up to do it safely, ethically, and sustainably. This free guide walks you through:

• Privacy and data security best practices

• Staff training and internal alignment

• Infrastructure and readiness questions

• Realistic next steps based on your current setup

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