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What are LYBUNT and SYBUNT donors?
Definition: LYBUNT stands for "last year but unfortunately not this year": donors who gave last year but have not given yet this year. SYBUNT stands for "some year but unfortunately not this year": donors who gave in some earlier year, but not last year or this year. Fundraisers pull both lists to find lapsing and lapsed donors worth winning back.
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Why it matters
Your LYBUNT and SYBUNT donors already said yes to your cause once. They know your work, and many stopped giving because no one asked, thanked, or updated them, not because they lost interest. Reaching out to them is usually far easier than finding a brand new donor.
The lists also show where your stewardship is slipping. A long LYBUNT list in the fall is an early warning. It tells you which relationships need a personal call or note before the year closes and those donors drift into SYBUNT.
How it works
How the lists are defined
Both lists depend on your fiscal or calendar year, so pick one and stick with it. A LYBUNT donor made at least one gift in the prior year and none so far in the current year. A SYBUNT donor gave in some year before last year, gave nothing last year, and has given nothing so far this year. Someone who gave three years ago and stopped is SYBUNT. Someone who gave last spring and has not renewed is LYBUNT. Once a LYBUNT donor makes a gift, they drop off the list. If they reach year end without giving, they become SYBUNT next year.
Running a LYBUNT or SYBUNT report
Most donor databases can produce these reports, and you can build them yourself from a gift export. For each donor, find the dates of their gifts. Flag anyone with a gift in last year's date range and none in this year's range as LYBUNT. Flag anyone whose most recent gift falls before last year as SYBUNT. Add columns for their last gift amount, last gift date, total giving, and who on your team knows them. Sort by giving history and relationship so you can see which donors deserve a personal touch first.
Turning the lists into outreach
Treat LYBUNT donors as current relationships that need attention. Thank them again for last year's gift, share a specific result it helped produce, and invite them to renew before year end. Your most generous LYBUNT donors deserve a phone call or handwritten note, not just a mailing. SYBUNT donors need more of a reintroduction. Acknowledge the time that has passed, tell them what has changed, and ask what drew them to the cause in the first place. To track progress, divide the number of LYBUNT donors who gave again by the number on the original list.
Examples
- A food bank pulls its LYBUNT report in October and finds a monthly donor whose card expired in March. A quick call fixes the card and restarts her giving.
- A school development office sends SYBUNT alumni a short note with a photo of the renovated lab their class helped fund years ago, inviting them to a campus tour.
- An executive director personally calls the ten largest LYBUNT donors in November, thanks each one, and asks how they feel about the organization's work this year.
- A small arts nonprofit adds a line to its year-end letter for SYBUNT donors: "We have missed you, and here is what your past support made possible."
Putting it into practice
- Choose your year definition, fiscal or calendar, and use it for every report.
- Pull your LYBUNT list at least quarterly so you can reach donors well before year end.
- Sort both lists by giving history and relationship, and assign the top names to a person who will call or write.
- Start every message with thanks and a specific result of their past gift before you ask for anything.
- Check for practical causes first, like expired cards, changed addresses, or a contact who left your staff.
- Record each response so next year's list shows who came back and what worked.
Write the message in 20 seconds
Free, no signup. The example is filled in: press the button, then replace it with your own situation. In Capstone, a message like it is written for each person you know when their check-in is due.
Frequently asked questions
What does LYBUNT stand for?
LYBUNT stands for "last year but unfortunately not this year." It describes a donor who made a gift last year but has not given so far this year. Fundraisers use the LYBUNT list to find donors who are at risk of lapsing so they can thank, update, and invite them to renew before the year ends.
What is the difference between LYBUNT and SYBUNT?
The difference is how recently the donor gave. A LYBUNT donor gave last year but not yet this year, so they are lapsing. A SYBUNT donor gave in some earlier year, but not last year or this year, so they have already lapsed. LYBUNT donors need a timely renewal ask. SYBUNT donors need more of a reintroduction.
What is a SYBUNT donor?
A SYBUNT donor is someone who gave "some year but unfortunately not this year," and also did not give last year. They supported your organization at some point in the past and then stopped. They are often worth reaching out to, because they already know your mission and may simply need a reason to reconnect.
What is the 80/20 rule in fundraising?
The 80/20 rule in fundraising is a rule of thumb that most of an organization's dollars come from a small group of its donors. It is a reminder to give your most generous supporters personal attention. For LYBUNT and SYBUNT work, it means calling or writing to the donors with the largest giving history first.
How do you re-engage LYBUNT donors?
Start by thanking them again for last year's gift and sharing a specific result it helped create. Check for simple problems like an expired card or old address. Then invite them to renew, ideally with a personal call or note for your most loyal donors. Reach out early in the final quarter, not at the last minute.
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