How to use LYBUNT and SYBUNT reports to re-engage donors

Or maybe they gave a few years ago, but haven’t been back since. These donors are your LYBUNTs and SYBUNTs, and reconnecting with them can make a huge difference for your fundraising.

In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what LYBUNT and SYBUNT mean, how to find those donors, and what you can do to win them back. If you’re ready to raise more without spending more, you're in the right place.

What LYBUNT and SYBUNT stand for and why they matter

Let’s start with the basics. LYBUNT stands for “Last Year But Unfortunately Not This.” It means someone gave to your organization last year but hasn’t donated yet this year. SYBUNT means “Some Year But Unfortunately Not This.” These are folks who gave at some point in the past, but not this year.

You’ve probably got more of these donors than you realize. They liked your mission enough to give once, maybe even a few times. But now, they’ve gone quiet. That doesn’t mean they don’t care anymore. It could just be that life got busy, your last email went to spam, or they didn’t feel a strong reason to give again.

Here’s why this group matters so much: they already know you. They already cared enough to give. That makes them way more likely to come back than someone brand new. And with the right message at the right time, you can turn a lapsed donor into a loyal one.

Understanding LYBUNTs and SYBUNTs is like finding low-hanging fruit in your donor list. It’s the first step toward building a smart, sustainable fundraising strategy that doesn’t rely on chasing cold leads.

Why donors lapse and how it impacts your fundraising

Donors don’t always stop giving because something went wrong. Sometimes, they just forget. Maybe they didn’t get a reminder. Maybe they meant to give but never hit “submit.” Or maybe they gave once, felt good about it, and thought that was enough.

Other times, the reason runs a little deeper. They didn’t hear how their gift made a difference. They felt like just another name on an email list. Or the message they got didn’t feel personal or relevant. When people don’t feel seen, they tend to drift away.

And here’s the thing, when even a small number of donors drop off each year, it adds up fast. That’s money your team was counting on. That’s time spent chasing new donors instead of keeping the ones you already had.

Understanding why people lapse helps you fix the leaks in your bucket. It means you can change your follow-up, show more impact, and make giving feel more like a relationship, not a transaction. That’s how you build a base of donors who stick with you year after year.

Identifying LYBUNT and SYBUNT donors using donor data

Now that you know who LYBUNT and SYBUNT donors are, let’s talk about how to find them. The good news? You don’t need to be a tech wizard. Most nonprofit CRMs, like DonorPerfect, Neon One, or even Excel, can help you pull this data with just a few filters.

Start by choosing your date range. For LYBUNT donors, you’re looking for people who gave during your last fiscal year but haven’t donated this year. For SYBUNT donors, you want anyone who gave before last year, but again, not this year. That’s it. That’s the core filter.

From there, you can dig deeper. Sort by gift size, giving frequency, or campaign type. Find the donors who used to give often, or gave big once and never again. These filters help you figure out which lapsed donors might be most likely to give again, and which messages they need to hear.

This kind of donor data is gold. It tells you who’s still out there, who might just need a nudge, and who’s already halfway back to your mission. You’re not guessing. You’re working with facts, and that’s what turns a good strategy into a great one.

Segmenting and prioritizing LYBUNT and SYBUNT donors

Not all lapsed donors are the same. Some gave $10 once. Others gave $500 every fall for three years. The way you reach out to them, and the message you send, should reflect that. That’s where segmentation comes in.

Start by grouping donors by how much they gave. High-dollar donors might get a personal email or even a phone call. Smaller one-time givers might be better suited for a thoughtful email series. You can also segment by how often they gave, what campaign they supported, or how they prefer to be contacted.

Another smart way to sort is by how recently they gave. A LYBUNT who donated last December is more likely to re-engage than a SYBUNT from five years ago. That doesn’t mean the older donor’s a lost cause, it just means your strategy should match their history.

Think of it like this: your goal isn’t just to get any gift. It’s to rebuild the relationship. And just like in life, the more you tailor the conversation to the person, the more likely they are to respond.

Proven fundraising strategies to re-engage LYBUNT and SYBUNT donors

Once you’ve found your LYBUNTs and SYBUNTs and grouped them by type, it’s time to reach out, and how you do that makes all the difference.

Start with a message that feels personal. Use their name. Mention the last time they gave or what their donation helped accomplish. Remind them they’re part of something important. A little context goes a long way.

Don’t just ask for money right away. Lead with impact. Share a quick story or photo showing how past support made a difference. Then, give them a simple, clear way to get involved again. Maybe it’s a short email with a bold donation button. Maybe it’s a phone call just to reconnect.

Timing matters too. End-of-year appeals, campaign anniversaries, or even “we miss you” moments can feel more natural than a random ask. And try different channels, email, text, handwritten notes. You might be surprised which one gets through.

And always, always say thank you, even if they don’t give this time. Every touchpoint is a chance to remind them they matter. That feeling of being seen is what brings people back.

Preventing future LYBUNT and SYBUNT donors

It’s one thing to bring lapsed donors back. It’s another to keep them from lapsing in the first place. And the secret? Stay connected after they give, not just before the next ask.

Thank them right away, and make it personal. A quick, heartfelt thank-you note or a short video from your team can make a big impression. Donors want to feel like their gift mattered, not like it disappeared into a black hole.

Keep showing up in their inbox, too, but not just with asks. Share updates. Tell stories. Let them see the progress they’re helping make. When they feel involved, they stay invested.

Automate what you can. Tools like Harness let you set up thank-you messages, impact updates, and reminders without doing it all by hand. That way, no donor falls through the cracks just because things got busy.

And maybe most important: ask for feedback. Check in now and then. Ask what matters to them, and use that to shape your messaging. When donors feel heard, they stick around.

Visuals and data to track LYBUNT and SYBUNT performance

Once you’ve started re-engaging LYBUNTs and SYBUNTs, tracking your progress is key. The numbers will show you what’s working, and where there’s still room to grow.

Start with a simple chart or table. Compare this year’s LYBUNT and SYBUNT numbers to last year’s. How many came back? How much did they give? Break it down by campaign, gift size, or communication method. This helps you see patterns and double down on what works.

You can also map out the donor journey. A visual timeline, starting with their first gift, then showing how they dropped off and when they came back, makes it easier to understand their behavior. It also shows your team where to step in earlier next time.

And don’t forget to keep an eye on your retention rate. A rising retention number tells you that your follow-up strategy is paying off. It’s one of the clearest signs your fundraising program is getting stronger.

If visuals aren’t your thing, that’s okay, tools like Harness make it easy to track this stuff without building fancy dashboards. The important part is paying attention. Because once you see the story behind the data, you can start writing a better one.

Start the journey

Reaching out to LYBUNT and SYBUNT donors isn’t just about plugging holes in your fundraising, it’s about recognizing the people who’ve already said yes to your mission. These donors believed in your work once. With the right message, they can believe again.

By identifying who they are, tailoring your outreach, and tracking what works, you’re not just chasing donations. You’re building real relationships. And those relationships are the foundation of long-term growth.

You don’t have to figure it all out alone, either. At Harness, we’ve helped nonprofits turn their data into action, and turn lapsed donors into loyal supporters. We’d love to do the same for you.