Just when you thought 2020 couldn’t get any worse . . . a bit of good news!
Good news, because of you.
Thank you!
Thank you for persevering through this time of upheaval and uncertainty.
Thank you for putting your mission front and center.
Thank you for reaching out to your supporters, telling your story and inspiring them to action.
The latest from the Fundraising Effectiveness Project shows that charitable giving in the first half of 2020 increased by almost 7.5 percent over the first half of 2019. The second quarter also marked a five-year high in the number of donors and contributions.
According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, “While donors at all levels have stepped up in a big way during the pandemic, those who gave less than $250 were a major driver of growth. The number of small donations increased 19.2 percent over the first six months of last year. That may be due in part to the $300 universal charitable deduction that was enacted as part of the Cares Act.”
Additionally, the number of midlevel donors, who made gifts of $250 to $999, and major donors, who made gifts of $1,000 or more, increased year-over-year by 8.1 percent and 6.4 percent, respectively.
So, how were your results?
Did your donors step up and help sustain your mission and those you serve?
We’ve talked to many of you over the past months.
Many of you have “pivoted” beautifully, reaching out and connecting with more donors with more personal communications and powerful and impactful messaging. Events in many instances, have become truly “special”, using new and creative strategies to draw in new attendees and actually raising more money as a result.
Others we spoke with are waiting, waiting for things to change, to improve, to go back to “normal”. I suspect they did not see such positive results.
So, where do we go from here?
We can’t rest on our laurels or expect what was will continue. One of the most important things you can do right now is to maintain the growth and retain your supporters is to build strong relationships with donors and inspire them to continue giving, what they can, when they can.
The best way to do this is to say “thank you” straight from your heart. There is nothing that makes another feel appreciated more than showering them with sincere gratitude.
Your mission is important. Those you serve have had their loads lightened a bit, because of the generosity of many. Let donors know how important they are now and in the uncertain future that lies before us.
And make sure there is enough gratitude to go around for your team (staff, volunteers, board). And most important, save a big helping of gratitude for yourself. You deserve it.
Want more?
On Tuesday, October 20 J. Milito & Associates hosted a conversation “Gratitude and Stewardship: The Secret to Raising More Money”. Gratitude and Stewardship is key to any successful fundraising program. We will discuss how to make our donors feel appreciated and engaged not just during times of crisis, but all the time. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to order a copy of the slides from this program.
Be a part of the conversation!
