The pandemic brought about enduring changes to communications—and the expectations of those on the receiving end of our efforts.

Communication became more immediate and abbreviated. Social media exploded in its use for daily communication, work, learning, and entertainment. Recipients began expecting communications with them to be more digital (transmitted using digital technology such as emails, social media posts, or text messaging), more virtual (taking place in a virtual environment, often in real-time and involving people interacting remotely), more personalized, and more transparent. Video went from a nice-to-have for storytelling to a must-have for effectively communicating with donors and constituents. Organizations that had relied on face-to-face interactions pivoted to relying more heavily on digital communications to make connections and engage people. And the changes people experienced at work and in their personal lives spilled over to their philanthropy. Donors began expecting the organizations they cared about and supported to know them and communicate with them like other organizations did. Meanwhile, the nonprofits themselves were continuing to rethink, refine, and reimagine how they interact with and engage their supporters and champions.

It’s a brand-new world in many ways. Today, we quickly go from the novel to the mundane (remember hashtags?) and ubiquitous (think AI, digital wallets). And communicating effectively with donors now requires an updated toolkit and both a different mindset and a new skillset.

In thinking about all of the changes we’ve experienced and are still grappling with, a few trends stand out as truly reshaping donor and constituent communications:

• The Ubiquity of AI Infiltration and Integration
• The Adoption of a Digital-First Approach
• The Necessity for Hyper-Personalization
• The Pivot to Omnichannel Communication
• The Reality of Shrinking Attention Spans
• The Increasing Demand for Authenticity and Transparency
• The Impact of Local to Global External Forces

In this piece, we’ll examine each of these trends and identify ways for you to embrace them.