It’s easy for organizations to fall into the trap that inviting gifts only happens on specific dates on a calendar. For congregations, it’s typically in the fall. For other non-profits, it’s the end of the year. A solid year-round plan for generosity, building on an annual appeal and end-of-year, leads to lasting results.

We have all been there. The finance report is dire and so the leader is directed to send out "the letter". This scarcity minded tactic results in a little bump in giving, but longer term leaves people wondering about the long-term health of the organization. Larger potential donors are left wondering if the organization can handle larger gifts. Donors who increased their giving recently feel like they are alone in doing so. There is a better way.

Strong Annual Funds aren't based on one-time (i.e., "annual") appeals. Instead, a healthy annual fund is a year-long (i.e., "annual") series of communications which inform, inspire, ask, and thank funding partners. Move beyond the one-and-done approach with a framework of Who, When, Why, and How you'll engage supporters to ensure your fundraising efforts are effective.

Sooner or later, if your organization or church is to reach its potential, you must follow the first five steps. New organizations have gotten off to a healthy start by heeding the guidance offered here. Established organizations have received new life by revisiting these first steps to success.

How do we improve donor retention, particularly from first gift to their second year with the organization. This is far cheaper than finding a new donor and the first conversion is the most important. Historically, retention rates are 45% on average. This means the average organization loses over half of their donors each year.

No matter the size or complexity of the organization, volunteers are critical in fundraising efforts. You will network your way to new prospects and have different relationships when we can move to peer to peer fundraising.

Developing sustainable money that can be planned for can transform your organization. You can also encourage younger donors to be more generous with a robust recurring giving program.

Partnering with churches can greatly increase your annual fund and help you acquire new donors if you position yourself correctly. Also, they will tell your story so that donors, participants, and potential friends start to learn about your impact. Turn congregations into major donors for your annual fund and even for campaign gifts.

With 35% of giving in the United States occurring between Thanksgiving and the end of the year, it is critical to have a strategy for end of year gifts. We can't just get lucky, but instead need to organize our communication and pay attention to specific donors as the year comes to a close.

This is a great evaluation tool to use with your staff, key volunteers, and board members. Have each of them, or a select group of them complete the evaluation and then discuss the results together. You will each see things a little differently and that knowledge will be helpful in making real changes and improve in giving to your organization.

Most executives of non-profits know the generosity of their supporters and freely discuss that generosity. Churches sometimes want to keep this information secret from the pastor and some pastors don’t want to know. In this roundtable we will explore whether or not a pastor should know what people give and how to handle that information. Agency/institution executives are invited to this session to help share their perspectives with pastors about this topic.

Giving societies are useful tools in renewing and upgrading your donors. Join us as we discuss establishing and marketing giving societies, as well as using giving societies to share our gratitude to our donors.

Different audiences care about different things and need different messages. Improved segmentation of communication will improve engagement and response. This session will focus on the basics of segmentation, and strategies your organization can employ today to improve your communications.

In this session we'll share the best practices for asking for a gift. Whether you've never asked, or just want a refresher, participants will leave this session with new and renewed confidence to invite others to generosity.

Annual Funds give life to the ongoing work of non-profit organizations. From a very basic framework to a comprehensive annual strategy, developing a robust and effective annual fund makes more mission possible. During this Roundtable session, we’ll talk about annual fundraising strategies that can work for fundraising departments of all sizes. Learn to track important data and develop strategies around donor retention, segmentation, and recurring gifts to boost support to your organization.

In fundraising, one size never fits all. Coordinating your fundraising strategies for both direct mail and digital provide the best of both options – and it’s literally how people live in the world. By creating multiple touch points, you improve your stickiness with people who care – or might care – about your organization. Combining strategies also means you’ll raise more money. Isn’t that your goal? In this Roundtable session, learn why integrating these strategies is so impactful and how to do it effectively. You’ll even pick up some tips that you can use in your own fundraising appeals.

Campaigns can be powerful opportunities in the life of your organization or ministry when organized well. They require time, energy, and thoughtful planning, but can propel your organization in several ways. In this session we’ll explore how your campaign is a powerful opportunity for sharing and enlivening the story of the organization or ministry. We’ll identify opportunities and approaches to telling and sharing your story through a campaign.

As we continue to navigate the realities of the pandemic, 90%??? of our revenue now comes from the generosity of camp friends like you. You have been a generous supporter of the ministry in the past, and your gift of $200, $100 or even $500 during this time will serve to create that sense of safety and belonging that campers so desperately need right now after all the isolation. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Don't bore people with your annual statements. They are a chance to reinforce your message of impact.

Priorities are great… but how do you go about achieving those priorities? In the second of this 3-part series we’ll discuss the role of planning, once again highlighting the need for and relationship between your strategic plan, fundraising plan, and communication plan. We’ll explore planning approaches that are nimble, accessible, and scalable for organizations of all sizes. Once again, bring your real world situations for us to unpack together and leave empowered to take action.