Year-End Giving: Reach Your Goals and Keep Donors Engaged

Welcome to Change Makers, a newsletter by Catalyst Collective. Click "subscribe" in the upper right corner above so you never miss an issue!

End-of Year-Giving

Did you know that 28% of nonprofits raise 26 to 50% of their annual funds through year-end asks? With upcoming holiday plans, Giving Tuesday, and other festivities this time of year, it can feel like you won't be able to reach your ideal audience through the noise.

Having a strategic marketing plan in place will prepare you for a strong end-of-year giving campaign that lands in the hearts and ears of those who are ready to join your mission.

Create a marketing schedule driven toward the campaign.

It's not too late to start your end-of-year campaign if you haven't done so already! Planning now gives you time to craft an effective campaign strategy. Think about how your team can remain consistent as you push toward the finish line:

• Who on your team can take on certain tasks?
• What tasks can be outsourced?
• What platforms can your organization use to streamline the giving process while making your donors feel hopeful that their donation is making a difference?

Evaluate what you have in place already, what can be improved and set goals. This information and process will help you map out a plan to ensure your campaign reaches its goal.

Create a timeline for your social, email and printed content. Craft your content plan by gathering quotes and impactful stories, filming and photographing visual content, putting together other communications and coordinating events.

Define and showcase your goal (and the progress you make!)?

Give your end-of-year campaign a catchy theme to capture people's attention and keep you top-of-mind. Use this theme to guide your social media content and design your email and printed materials.

People also want to see results! Keep donors engaged by letting them know the progress toward your goal. Show them that they are truly a part of this- that they are putting your mission into action. Update followers on your progress by marking milestones along your campaign timeline. When you hit these milestones, send emails to your audience and post on your social media channels. Tell them stories about how their generosity is already making an impact.

Celebrate the end of the year with a thank you to all supporters.?

Over the course of your campaign, you'll likely have many returning donors, new donors and people who are still on the fence about supporting your organization. In what ways can you personally thank those who supported your cause, and how can you continue to engage those who haven't taken action yet?

Becoming a donor for your organization is a selfless, important act, and your donors need to know they are appreciated. Make them feel valued by sending a personalized "thank you" message, no matter the amount of their contribution. A "thank you" could be the start of a long-term partnership between your organization and the donor.

End-of-year campaigns are exciting! But how can you ride the momentum into the new year? We recommend evaluating areas of praise and improvement in your year-end campaign. Once the new year comes, get a head-start on the following year's campaign by meeting with your team and stakeholders to discuss the results and set a timeline for the next campaign. By summertime, meet again to strategize the upcoming year-end campaign!

Do you need help attracting and motivating donors? Our team can help you keep the fundraising momentum going!?Contact us today if you are looking for a trusted team to partner with.

Be a Catalyst

You can be a catalyst for change in your community. Check out the following ways you can get involved in shaping the future this quarter:

December 8 - The Table Information Session: email [email protected] to RSVP

December 12 - Women in Technology Tennessee Holiday Party

WiTT Scholarship deadlines - Childcare Grant - December 15

Member Professional Development Scholarship - December 15

Become a sponsor for Dream Streets' 9th annual 5k: https://dreamstreetstn.com/ds5k

Nashville Wine Auction is looking for 2024 sponsors: https://nashvillewineauction.com/sponsors/

Spread the Word! Do you know a nonprofit in need of capacity-building resources? Send them our way.

Catalyst Collective is a consultancy that helps mission-driven organizations grow. Our collaborative community of passionate leaders and organizations provides services that help your organization effectively deliver its mission to the community. Contact us today to learn more.