Quick Tips for Year-End Giving
With 2020 wrapping up, there is still time for one last giving campaign, and it just may be one of the most important of the year!
Did you know?
- 30% of all annual donations occur in December
- December 31 is the tax deadline for making charitable gifts
You can send your year-end appeals in a variety of ways and through almost any channel! Don’t be afraid to get creative – the more unique your fundraiser is, the more likely it is to stand out to current and potential supporters.
What exactly are you going to do?
- Host a virtual fundraising event?
- Launch a crowdfunding campaign?
- Create a series of emails to donors?
- All of the above?
Once you’ve chosen your strategy, its time to organize the campaign! Don’t get overwhelmed, just follow these steps and ask us if you need any assistance, we love to help!
Set your fundraising goal
Of course you want to get donations, but how many? By when? From whom? You won’t know if your campaign is successful if you haven’t defined exactly what success is! Its important to benchmark yourself against yourself. If you know what your organization has done, you can better predict what you can do.
Don’t lose momentum
A common mistake we see schools and other organizations making is a loss of momentum over the course of a campaign. Your campaign kicks off, its well received, the feedback is excellent and it seems like those dollars will be raised without much additional effort – its easy to get complacent. Don’t let this happen!
Build in regular communications at specific points throughout the course of your year-end campaign. Make sure to regularly remind your volunteers, supporters and staff to keep spreading the word until you have achieved your goal.
Looking for ideas or inspiration? Check out what Givedot partner Hanalani schools of Mililani, Hawaii, is doing for their year-end campaign.
Brand Identity Elements for your Campaign:
- Campaign name – be creative so you stand out
- Description – Have a consistent and unique tone
- Logo and colors – increase awareness with a visual identity
- Videos – show everyone why your mission matters
- Photos – capture the essence of your mission
- Testimonials – quotes from program recipients
Thanking donors may be the most important part of your campaign
Intentionally thanking all of your donors will spread the spirit of gratitude across your support network. There is a direct connection between thanking donors and receiving future donations.
The number one reason donors do not give again is because they are not aware of the impact their donation had on your cause. If you forget, you may lose potential donors for your future campaigns!
