Acquiring donors is challenging and costly, yet essential to addressing the world’s pressing issues. This talk explores new research on how charities can pull in satellite supporters—those who orbit the charity, engaging briefly but often drifting away—into a closer, lasting connection. By understanding their motivations and needs, charities can transform occasional supporters into dedicated advocates.

Many new donors are drawn in during emergencies or peer-to-peer events but often remain at a distance, like satellites orbiting a charity’s mission without fully committing. The opportunity to bring them closer and turn them into long-term advocates is immense but often underutilized. Charities need to innovate, creating personalized and meaningful engagement strategies that pull these satellite supporters into a stronger relationship.

More Strategic partnered with eight organizations to study donors who respond to emergencies like natural disasters, pandemics, or domestic crises. Through interviews and surveys with thousands of supporters, we gained a deep understanding of donor decision-making and how to engage them long-term.

Beyond crisis supporters, our research also covers how to engage lottery buyers, hospital patients, and unconverted leads—helping charities transform initial interest into sustained support. Attendees will gain actionable insights and strategies to pull their satellite supporters into a lasting orbit around their mission.