From the Front-lines: Fundraising Tips to End the Year Strong

This is part-one of a two-part blog series on “Ending the Year Strong.”

Right now at Veritus Group, our Client Experience Leaders are working with over 200 mid, major and planned giving officers, who like you, are trying to end their year strong. Over the years, we’ve figured out what it takes during the last couple of weeks of the calendar year for front-line fundraisers to be successful.

And, since you are part of our Veritus family, we wanted to share with you the tips that are most effective so you can finish the year strong too.

1. Identify any donor in your portfolio that has either not given a gift this year, or is behind their goal and reach out to them. Hopefully, by now you have sent a holiday card thanking them for all they have done, so use this as a follow-up touch point. Double-check to make sure you properly reported on the impact of their last gift and perhaps give them a quick update on that project or program.
2. Check the daily gift reports so that you are fully up to date on any gifts that come in and can check that against your individual donor goals. Another reason to do this is so that you can immediately thank your donor now and perhaps set up another gift before year-end.
3. Do a quick touch point call to all donors in your portfolio who made a gift last year in the last two weeks of December. It could be a phone call, e-mail, or text message with a quick story about how your organization is addressing a need. It could also be as simple as wishing your donor a happy holiday. The point is to remind your donor about your organization and that you’re thinking about them.
4. Work your plan! Our Veritus Client Experience Leaders are telling me that the month of December is the hardest month to keep their front-line fundraisers working their plan. Why? Because there are so many distractions both at work and in their personal lives with the holidays. Now, I know things get a bit crazy in the last couple of weeks of the year, but you made a plan, and you need to continue to work it. It’s critical for you to have a source of accountability so you don’t veer off the plan you created. If anything, THIS is the time to really focus on your donors and stick with your plan.

I know it’s easy to get off track right now, and there are many distractions, both in and outside the office. But your efforts to be disciplined and focused will create a major difference in how your donors respond to you and your organization’s needs at this time of year.

Jeff