Is this the most GRATEFUL year in Giving Tuesday History??? Find out + a lot more - It's the RAISE Better Newsletter, Y'all!

Hello and happy holidays from all of us here at EverTrue! I’m sure your offices are racing to the finish line wrapping up year-end projects and making sure every dollar in 2022 is counted and acknowledged before 2023. This month’s edition of the RAISE Better newsletter is bringing you top content to round out your year. Here’s what’s new in December:

1. December webinars alert!

Were you also a fan of those wildly wonderful Choose Your Own Adventure novels as a kid? You know the ones that took you on one daring quest after another? Well, you’re in luck! This Wednesday December 7th at 3pm EST join us for a Choose Your Own Adventure with Amanda Trabue and Joanna Curtis, CFRE.?

These two VPs (who leade teams that consistently out-perform peer institutions) are going to let YOU guide the discussion topics as we talk about fundraising in this economy, how to reach more donors, building talent pipeline, improving gift officer efficiency, Donor Experience programs, and more.

The WKU and Memphis teams are helping their fundraisers reach more donors — with smart software built for gift officers and Donor Experience programs.?

Register here — you won’t want to miss this epic discussion.

And later in December, we have another session where we sit down with Troy Finn of the University of New Hampshire to talk about incentive compensation for gift officers — UNH has exceeded its goals every year the program has been in place.?

Register now for the webinar on December 14th at 3PM EST!

2. It wouldn’t be the season of gratitude without some stats about the ThankView videos y’all have been sending, right?!?!?

In November of last year, there was a record 2.6 million ThankView videos sent. This year, you all completely smashed that record. The total ThankView sends for the month of November in 2022 reached (drumroll, please). . .over 3.7 million!?

Our clients took Grateful Wednesday to a whole other level this year by sending millions of messages of gratitude to their donors, and we couldn’t be prouder. Overall, it was a huge month in our pursuit to help our clients thank every donor, and there’s still time left before the end of the year to continue showing gratitude.

Want to learn more about overall Giving Tuesday results in the industry? The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported participation was up 6 percent over last year and giving was up 15 percent over last year and more than 25 percent over 2020. However, colleges and universities did see a slight dip in their giving over last year.?

3. It’s now December and everyone is laser-focused on year-end. We’ve heard from fundraisers across the industry who have expressed concern about what their donors are thinking due to economic uncertainty and inflation.?

But don’t fret, recent surveys show that inflation won’t affect donors’ year-end giving and? some donors may be even increasing their gifts. The survey, “Why America Gives 2022,” a report by Classy and GoFundMe, found that 90 percent of Americans who had given in the past 12 months planned to give the same amount or more than last year. It also found that “loyal donors are twice as likely to keep their contributions as is, even if they’re experiencing “a financial stressor.””?

So, inflation might not affect donor dollars coming in, but what does? Your messaging, segmentation, and frequency and manner of donor outreach will set you apart from other orgs vying for mindshare amidst the year-end flurry. Knowing your audience is key to getting more dollars in the door, especially when it comes to generational differences as shared in the article above.

As always, thanks for reading. And warm wishes for a joyful holiday season with your family and friends. I’ll be back with three top topics in the new year— stay tuned!

P.S. - Want to brush up on some of the latest topics in advancement over the holidays? On our newest podcast, Talking Shop, David Lively and Erin Moran break down some of advancement’s most challenging and taboo topics. Tune in on EverTrue Studios!

Take care,?

JD Beebe, President