I’ve gotten numerous emails from people looking for protocols and sample policies around going back to the office, visiting donors, and having events. Everyone wants to know what someone else is doing. No one seems to have answers.

Now, I’m not someone who has the answers either. I’m a fundraising team leader, not a human resources specialist.

But here’s what I do know. While we have done an amazing job in adapting to online work, we still need in-person interaction between our teams and with our donors to feed our human relationships.

Maybe not every day, and maybe not every job. But we are a sector that builds change through organizing people to give, volunteer, and take action. We need that human interaction to do our work: to inspire, collaborate, and empathize

Sure, we’ve all been able to build relationships online. But it’s really more that we’ve been able to maintain the relationships we’ve had and perhaps develop them into something deeper. But building new donor relationships is challenging on Zoom, and some relationships have been lost due in the lack of human contact.

We can’t really go on like this. We need to be able to build new relationships through human interaction to grow our impact.

So, how do we get there? How do we get through this time period that is not yet normal, but close to normal?

There was always going to be an “in-between” time where it isn’t clear what we should do about meetings and events. This is where we are now and here are the four buckets of questions I am considering as we navigate through it:

Meetings with each other: I’ve built a new team during COVID. Two of my team members have never worked in our office. We’ve spent a lot of time building the team culture online so that we all know and trust each other.

But when I recently met with one of my new team members for the first time in person, it made a difference for her and for me. There’s a spark of trust that moves the relationship forward when you can look each other in the eye. We understand each other better and our work relationship will be better for it.

Questions to consider: How are you planning to make the transition with team members? Have you had an open conversation with each team member to hear their hopes and concerns for their future work life? Are people on your team excited for in-person interaction with team members? Or nervous?

Meeting with other teams: From my point of view, this is the area where COVID has taken the biggest toll on professional work life. In most operations, cross-team collaboration (let’s say between the development operation and the communications team, for example) is absolutely necessary to move projects forward.

But when big groups meet on Zoom, it’s really, really hard to generate an environment where trust and creativity can grow. It’s hampered by the mute button and the difficulty of facilitating the group into a space where the energy of collaboration happens.

Questions to consider: Have you talked to other teams to gather their thoughts about meeting in person? Are there joint projects that you can use as a way to jump start in-person discussion and activity? Will joint meetings be optional? Will there be alternative ways to attend, like Zoom, even if the rest of the team is in person? How do you facilitate an “in-between” cross-team meeting?

Meetings with donors: We are starting to hear from donors who want to meet outside for lunch, go for a hike, or meet one-on-one in a socially distanced way. Our donors want to reconnect personally and we want to further these relationships, too. We have reached out to some about their level of comfort, and their responses have been all over the map.

I think the most important thing to consider here is honesty and transparency. We have to talk explicitly about our level of comfort with the meeting and how it takes place before we meet. That includes talking about where exactly the meeting will take place, who will be there, and determining how each party is feeling about things like vaccination status or eating indoors.

Questions to consider: Do you have a sense of where some of your closest supporters are in their thinking about social activity? Have you discussed their comfort level? Have your considered surveys or informal focus groups to get a sense of where they are?

Events: You know, I’ve never been a big gala fan, but I totally get people wanting to gather in a group after this long year of COVID. I hear of people planning summer house parties and fall galas. That would really make it seem “normal” again wouldn’t it?

But I think we should be very purposeful about re-starting these activities. First of all, not all galas made good fundraising sense. Before you start yours up again, take a moment to make sure that it was actually furthering your fundraising goals. Many galas are very expensive and don’t deliver the return on investment to justify that expense.

In our case, COVID gives us a chance to re-examine our (very large – 800 people!) gala and to think about how we could adjust the objectives and the cost structure to be more efficient and to more closely mirror our organizational values and priorities.

Also, more than ever, we don’t really know what the future brings. So, for the small house parties that we are contemplating in the summer, we are keeping things tentative and flexible. We are talking to our hosts about how to be transparent and open with their invitees. The message is: things could change and we will work it out together!

Questions to consider: Have you taken a good hard look at your events calendar to ensure that your events are in line with your fundraising objectives before you start them up again? Have you considered different scenarios for where we might be in terms of public health when your event is set to take place? And do you have contingency plans in place?

I’m sure you’ve been thinking about this a lot, too. Fundraising is all about personal interaction and we all are excited to gather. But before you plan that meeting or book that event space, consider your objectives, have honest conversations, and make some contingency plans.

And most of all, share your ideas and your learning with other fundraisers. We’re all looking for the same advice! We’d love to have your thoughts here in the comments. All ideas and resources welcome!

Image by Cindy Parks from Pixabay

The post Meetings and Events in the Time Between COVID and “Normal” appeared first on Front Range Source.

There’s always so much to do, so many opportunities throughout the year and at year-end, that creating a new work plan in January is a welcome reset.

But what this exercise often ends up being for me is not a list what I will do, but more of a list of what I won’t do.

To prepare for my evaluation and work plan, I looked at:

• Our strategic plan: This document has guided me through many iterations of priority setting. What do I need to do to make sure that I meet the spirit, vision, and the objectives of the strategic plan?
• Our annual plan: Our annual plan for 2021 contains more granular specifics on what my team and I committed to back in the Fall of 2020.
• My 2020 work plan: I went back to look at my objectives in my work plan for last year to see what I accomplished and what didn’t work out.
• My team’s performance: How are my team members feeling about their work over the last year and are there any changes to their needs for support or expectations for me?
• Results: It is really critical as fundraisers that we are guided by the data as well as the vision. I had to look at the financial data as well as statistics on donor participation.

Taking all of these things into account, I went about trying to realistically decide what I want to accomplish this year, with the big picture in mind. I organized activities into objectives that were specific and measurable so that I can figure out whether I fulfilled them in 2021.

And when prioritizing, I did have to decide what I could do this year, realistically, and what I’d have to left behind.

At Front Range Source, we’ve had to take stock of our priorities, too.

Both Ann and I have a lot going on. We both have full-time commitments to our work. So, when we sat down just a few weeks ago to take stock and look at our priorities for 2021, we decided that the core of our work was our number one priority.

Our mission had always been to give nonprofits the resources they need to raise the funds for their mission. We prioritized our blog and our toolbox because those were the most in line with our mission.

This left us with having to de-prioritized our job board, and we have decided to close it down. This was hard for us because we knew the job board had value.

But when we made our own annual plan for Front Range Source, we felt like we had to take the advice that we had been giving to fundraisers throughout the years – you can’t do it all, so make a good plan to do what you can do best.

It was hard to leave the job board behind, but look forward to continued blog posts and some more items added to our toolbox. Bringing you the resources you need – and a friendly voice of assurance – has always been our priority and it will continue to be.

Good luck for your prioritizing for 2021! Let us know how it goes!

The post Prioritizing What Matters: Annual Planning for You and for Us appeared first on Front Range Source.

In fact, a new take on your fundraising story is more important this year than ever.

Your donors want to know:

How are you handling the pandemic? How has it impacted your clients? Have you been able to keep your staff? Did you get a PPP loan? Will you get another? Is everyone healthy? How did year-end go for you? Did your donor community provide enough support?

Bottom line – they want to know that you’re ok. And they want to know how to help.

If you haven’t already, I encourage you to meet with your internal team this month and revisit your fundraising language.

Here are some tips for how to talk to your donors right now:

Tell it like it is

Treat your donors as insiders. If you have significant challenges and need additional resources, say so. Likewise, if you’re doing well, meeting budget and feeling optimistic, celebrate openly.

Answer their burning questions

Look at the list above and be sure to fill them in on all the scoop. It’s such a weird time, people really do want to hear how you’ve adapted and changed.

Shorten the story arc

Let donors know how you’ve made it through the past 10 months and what you anticipate for the next 10 months. Ground everything in your broader vision, of course, but the only way to be realistic right now is to recognize that the future is still unknown.

Acknowledge the donor’s circumstances

Nothing is normal for anyone right now. Your donors may or may not be able to support you at this exact moment, but make it clear that you want them by your side for the long term.

Showcase your clients

The people you serve have probably shown incredible resilience and fortitude. Highlight their wins. We all need some positive stories.

Be really clear about your values

Making a case for support is always about finding shared values with your donors and then explaining why a gift to your organization is a great way to turn those values to action.

In the midst of all the madness, revisiting how you make your case can be clarifying and invigorating. It’s good for your donors and it’s also good for you!

The post Your Donors are Curious appeared first on Front Range Source.

Not only are we not in our offices to check the mail or answer the phones, we are also not able to visit our donors, drop off holiday gifts, or have a holiday open house.

But, like so many other things in fundraising during the pandemic, the basics still apply:

1. Know your gap: Hopefully you already know how much money you need to raise in December to meet your year-end goal – or in my case – your 2020 budget. Be sure to look at all of your line items and audiences and giving channels  – major gifts, gifts from mailings, event revenue, etc. – separately to spot opportunity
2. Create a LYBUNT list: Do you know who gave Last Year But Not (yet) This (year)? Well, you need to! Take that list and sort it from the largest gift down. This forms your follow up list for individual donors. Start at the top and work your way down. If you can’t get to the whole list of donors, take the lower dollar segment and send them an email as a reminder to give before December 31st.
3. Use every channel you can: Take a look at your list and make note of  how your donors like to communicate. Try the phone, a connection via social media, a personal email, or a quick note (if you get it in the mail soon!).  It doesn’t have to be a hard ask, you just want to remind them that you’re thinking about them.
4. Enlist others: This time of year a lot of program folks are not as busy as they normally are. Consider putting them to work! At my organization, we organized some in-house phone banks for staff to thank donors and remind them to give.
5. Keep the phones open: Make sure you have a plan for answering phones and the email during the holidays. I know it would be nice to take the time off, but we all know that isn’t really possible for all fundraisers. You don’t have to be on all the time, just make sure there’s a way for phone calls to roll over to you if donors need something to give at year-end.
6. Stay current on acknowledgements: I’m sure you have a system in place for getting the mail and sending thank you’s in a timely manner. Try to keep that system going so that you can thank donors for their generosity quickly, and not have a pile to come back to in January.

Most importantly, celebrate success! Yes, you made it through 2020 – the craziest, most challenging year for fundraising that anyone has seen in many, many years. Great work!

The post Year-End Fundraising in a Pandemic appeared first on Front Range Source.

I was a late adopter of the Blackberry when it first came out and said I would NEVER schedule a meeting in this way and now my dependence on my device to capture my calendar, contacts, and life is laughable.

I feel like virtual events are going to have a similar trajectory for me, something to resist and then something to embrace because they simply work. 

As many non-profits moved toward virtual events this year, I felt the resistance rising within.

I held this idea that fundraising is about asking and should only be done in person – especially with a mission-focused ask event where connecting is everything.

Then we held our virtual We Build Breakfast and raised over $110,000, surpassing our highest-previous result by $35,000!

Why did it work? The Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity team got serious about seeing the opportunities and the limitations of the format and “designed” with those in mind.

Here were our Top 5 limitations and how we turned them into opportunities:

Limitation: People can’t gather, connect, network.

Opportunity: People CAN do “watch parties” via Zoom and connect to watch our video event and interact. This allows different audiences a chance to connect with different board, staff, and table captains who share interests. For instance, our faith & global engagement director held a watch party with 45 faith-based supporters. She offered a customized “ask” at the end of the party, directing them to a separate link to give in a restricted way.

Limitation: People can’t hear live testimonials and be inspired to give in the same way.

Opportunity: People CAN experience the “Show” of “Show & Tell” better than in a ballroom.  For instance, if a Habitat homeowner talks about what their neighborhood means to them in a video format, they can bring you along to play on the playground with their kids. With the right videographer, you can fine tune the message, edit, add photos, B roll, visuals, and hit every right note in the speeches utilizing as many takes as you need.

Limitation: People may not sign-up for a virtual event because they don’t know what to expect or are “Zoom-ed” out.

Opportunity: People CAN attend for only 30 minutes and they CAN attend at any time from any location, even wearing pajamas. We marketed the event as a “short and sweet” experience that would honor the participants’ time.  While creating the urgency of an event is crucial to get folks to register and attend, the video asset remains, so you can continue to encourage those who have a time conflict to join when and how they please. We also let everyone know that their camera would be off—they simply could watch, and this alleviated any stress to look and be presentable that morning.

Limitation: Without physical space there are not as many ways to thank corporate sponsors.

Opportunity: People CAN be recognized virtually in a variety of creative ways and they CAN get more engaged when you share a bit of vulnerability about the needs of the organization. We had companies’ step-up in unexpected ways. A local construction company decided to help us by inviting their industry partners to create a “Builders Match” so that every individual donation would be matched. They reached out on our behalf to their contacts knowing that the pandemic has affected our organization in numerous ways. This “Builders Match” meant that almost half of the proceeds were committed prior to the day of the event, and the virtual platform granted every sponsor the visibility they wanted.

Limitation: Connections are more difficult to make when you can’t meet.

Opportunity:  People are really interested in connecting, want to give in ways that make impact, and they can be reached if you are willing to put in a little more effort. Rather than inviting folks via social media and sharing an event, ask each of your board, staff, table captains to send individual invitations to one person at a time, sharing personal reasons for their own involvement and why they thought of inviting the particular guest. It takes more time, yes, but most people say the number one reason they don’t give is that they were not asked.  In this day and age, it is more important than ever that we ask and share our why.

I will always be a late-adopter of technological solutions because I think the magic of connection happens best across the table, but I am grateful that generosity is still finding a way to flow where it needs to go.  Also, I am not yet ready for a Zoom gala, though I also have heard they really work. Dancing in my living-room in a ballgown, no way.  It’s all professional tops and pajama bottoms for me right now. 

Thank you, Kristin!

You can check out Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity’s We Build Breakfast video here.

The post Resistance to Virtual Events Gone after Record-Breaking “Ask” Breakfast appeared first on Front Range Source.

I can’t encapsulate the whole story of the twists and turns of my virtual event journey in a single blog post, but I thought I would share a few lessons from the front lines.

Honestly, while I love house parties and stewardship events for donors, I have always had a healthy dose of skepticism about large fundraising events.

As we’ve talked about many times in this blog, the full cost of fundraising events is often obscured and the benefits are often buried in the general relief of having the event over. There are often better ways to solicit and connect with your donors.

But in 2020, like professionals across the nonprofit spectrum, I found myself planning for a virtual event and plunged into knowing whatever I could.

Let me just say – virtual events are basically the wild, wild west. While there are blogs, webinars, and vendors who will tell you all about their take on them, there just isn’t enough history or experience for there to really be a roadmap or template.

In our case, we very much had to figure it out. Our implementation plan for our event changed multiple times as the world around us changed and new challenges arose every step of the way.

So, here I am, the weekend after the event, wondering how I can impart to you what I’ve learned.  Here a few questions I came up with that I would definitely consider asking myself if I did this again:

What are we trying to accomplish?

As with any event, it’s important to understand what fundraising objective you are trying to meet before making any plans. (And your objectives have to be around more than just money in the door!) Are you trying to get new donors? Renew your major donors? Thank your donors?

For us, we were trying to use the timing to thank donors and members for everything they did for our elections work this year and make sure they knew there was a lot more to do. We had very conservative goals around fundraising at this event (as we had never done one before), but we were hoping it would be a place to set the agenda and make the case for their year-end and 2021 giving.

Do we want to connect our donors with each other?

From my experience, this seems to be one of the most important questions because the whole design of the event – and the work associated with it – is different depending on your answer. At some point early on, you have to decide if you want the event to be interactive – so that your attendees can see and interact with each other – or if you just want to put on an entertaining “show” giving people the technology to watch and give without the social component.

The level of connection matters because the technology you use really depends on the answer to this question. There are a lot of different platforms out there of varying quality and price points, as well as a lot of salespeople trying to convince you that theirs is for you! Your choice, really, depends on the answer to this question.

For us, we just had too much uncertainty with the election to really know what a “connected” event would look like 9 days after Election Day. We decided to follow in the footsteps of the Democratic National Convention where we had more of a show with two “live” people in a studio and a series of speakers who came in via video. People watching could bid on auction items and contribute to our paddle raiser portion of the show with their phones.

How can I minimize the risk of things going wrong?

This is the world we live in! I felt like there were three major risks: technical, fundraising, and pandemic-related risks.

The technical risks are obvious. What if the WiFi is unstable? What if the platform has a failure (like YouTube did the day before our event where we were using YouTube to stream)? What if you are having someone speak live from their house and their connection fails? We mitigated this risk by using a production firm that was experienced in putting events like this together and they advised us to do as much pre-recorded ahead of time as we could.

The fundraising risk was more familiar. Just like any event, you have to do your pre-work to make sure you’re going to meet your goals. This is important in an online event because while you can wing it in person and sometimes the magic happens during a paddle raise, it’s easy for people to tune out when they are online. We made sure that we lined up donors to inspire others ahead of time.

The pandemic risk is critical. We had to ensure that the studio we were using for the live portion was taking the necessary precautions, and that everyone in the studio was practicing social distancing, had been tested, and would be wearing a mask when not on camera.  

Do I have the communications support I need to do this?

Since most of these events are online, the communications necessary to get the word out also need to be online. Your email and social media channels need to be active to drive people to attend.

It’s absolutely key to check with your communications folks to ensure that they have the expertise and the capacity to add this additional work into their plans. And if you don’t have any communications staff, you need to ensure that you or your staff has the capacity and expertise to execute the an invite, reminders, support during the program, and follow up.

We are lucky enough to have a stellar communications and digital team, but it was still challenging to get on the airwaves. The election took up a lot of room and organizational capacity, as well as people’s attention. We did a great job of getting the word out right before the event and had over 500 people registered, but we only had about half that number in the event at any time. (I’m told this is a trend – good to know!)

How do I follow up?

Always a great question for any event! So many of us are just too tired to take this next step after you’ve put everything into an event. But it’s critical to have this piece in place. How are you going to thank people? Are you going the allow the event to be recorded and redistributed? How are you going to capture people’s names so you can thank them>

For us, we figured out ahead of time what audiences we wanted to thank and how and set up everything ahead of time. It was nothing fancy, really, just a series of segmented thank you emails and cards. But we wanted to ensure that we were speaking to people in the most personal way possible, and that they were getting the information they needed.

A few more suggestions:

• Watch some online events: This was something I did throughout the summer and it gave me great ideas and helped me sort through options. If you want to watch Conservation Colorado’s click here.
• Get some help: I do recommend talking to as many people as possible as you make your plan – colleagues, consultants, and event planners – so that you understand the lay of the land.
• Start early: If you’d like a guide to creating your own objectives, please see our 10 Steps to the UnGala worksheet in our FREE toolbox.
• Expect to work hard: I’ve had several people tell me that virtual events are more time-intensive than in-person events, and that does seem to be true for all involved. Honestly, I think this is because we don’t know as much about them, but in any case – plan accordingly!

Have any questions or want to share your own experience? Please leave us a comment here. We’d love to hear from you!

The post Planning and Executing a Virtual Event: Post from the Front Lines appeared first on Front Range Source.

Colorado is overrun with wildfires and one of them happens to be looming nearby.

And yes, Dear Reader, I’m calm enough to write this blog for you.

You see, I’ve been through this before. In 2010, the Fourmile Canyon Fire came to my back door. At that time, I had two young sons and we only had about 45 minutes to evacuate. Our house survived, but many of our neighbors’ homes did not. If you’re reading this in the West, chances are you’ve experienced this too. Or worse.

This time, it’s so much easier for me to get ready. My sons are grown and live elsewhere. My husband is the local Fire Chief so I know our district is in good hands.

It’s just me and the dog, with boxes full of photographs, artwork, and family heirlooms. And a battered manila envelope filled with a lifetime of letters and cards from loved ones.

You see, there are things that matter. And many, many more things that simply don’t.

What does this have to do with fundraising? Everything.

It’s up to each of us to identify the important things. And to protect them when needed. 

You are the front-line defender of your fundraising program. Everyone is nervous about revenue. At the same time, budgets are being cut in the midst of a crisis year. If they haven’t already, your CEO, Board, and CFO might be asking you to pare things back.

I encourage you to be to take a hard look at what’s MOST important in your fundraising program and be ready to stick up for it.

What’s most important? That depends on your program.

Do a combination of immediate and long-term thinking. When I pack up my house for evacuation, I do include a toothbrush and pair of jeans for tomorrow. But, I’m mostly thinking about what I want to pass along to my children and grandchildren.

Consider your immediate needs, but really take the time to envision the future.

What do you need to do during a period of crisis to make sure today’s donors are with the organization five or ten years from now?

As fundraisers, we are fleeting. If our organizations are to continue fulfilling their missions, they need lasting relationships with donors. Far beyond our tenure. You are the temporary steward. What will it take to walk beside these donors until the next fundraiser comes along?

If you think about this, you’ll know what’s important. You’ll know what resources are needed. You’ll be able to plan accordingly.

Think of your fundraising budget as a dartboard, with the most critical resources in the bullseye, protected no matter what.

Then be prepared and determined to defend the perimeter!

Our hearts go out to all the people who have been displaced during this terrible wildfire season. We thank all the nonprofits and community organizations who step in to help those who are impacted. And, we are deeply grateful to the firefighters who dedicate their lives to defending what’s important.

The post Defending What’s Important appeared first on Front Range Source.

But this year – this wild year of 2020 – it’s hard to know what’s going to happen from day to day, much less in the last four weeks of the year when so much of the philanthropic giving happens in this country.

So, while I can’t possibly tell you what will happen to fundraising after November 3rd, I can tell you how to keep your focus and move ahead:

Your message: For all of us in the nonprofit sector, the results and the aftermath of election day don’t change one thing: the work continues. I can’t think of any issue that won’t necessitate continued vigilance and support: homelessness, climate change, preschool education, community theater. In fact, the need for the work that your organization does is probably going to be needed more than ever as the attention of our nation is on the political scene. So, unless the election is central to your work or will affect it profoundly, acknowledge the moment, but stick with your message.

Your major donors: Statistically speaking, very few of your donors are also giving politically. While more than 70% of Americans give to charity, less than 5% give to political causes. (Hopefully you know your major donors well enough to know about their political giving.) In any case, your major donors give to you because they believe in you, and many are waiting to hear what you’re going to do in this in the face of so much need. Keep the lines of communication open, make your case for your work in 2021, and ASK. Don’t make decisions for your major donors by assuming they are maxed out by the election.

Your year-end appeal: I’ve had a couple of you ask about year-end mailings and I have to say I’ve been struggling with this myself. There’s no perfect time to drop an appeal this year, but my approach has always been that it’s better to send something early. So, I will be dropping an appeal before Halloween and following up the ask through all of our channels. I’ll also be sending a second shorter reminder in December.

Your events: Be brave and move ahead with that virtual event you’re planning. And if you don’t have one on the books, try to create small forums for donors and prospects to meet up. Maybe it’s just an online “house party” or small happy hour using Zoom. It doesn’t have to be perfect – people just want to connect with each other and most are incredibly grateful and forgiving in these times. Whatever you do, remember to have a system to follow up and bring the donor or prospect closer to your organization.

Your digital December: Regardless of the state of your online fundraising, don’t sit this one out. Create a plan – however limited your capacity – to try to engage with your donors this giving season on email and social media. Make your case, tell your stories, and concentrate on learning from what you do so you can weave it into your fundraising in 2021.

You’ll notice a pattern here. We recommend that you keep on keeping on. Don’t try to predict the election results. Don’t second guess your strategy. Make a plan, adjust as you go, and keep track of your results.

And give yourself a break – this is hard. And what you are doing in the face of uncertainty, is amazing. If you need us, we’re here for you!

The post The Election of our Lifetime and Fundraising appeared first on Front Range Source.

A colleague of mine was thrilled last week after she conducted her first-ever six-figure ask. The donor said “yes,” which was wonderful. But it was so much more than that.

Making that gift was an opportunity for the donor to recognize a loved one and to leave a legacy for the children of his community. Giving for him felt good. Really good. Suffice it to say, there were tears all round.

These are the moments that remind us why we do this work.

No matter the size of gift, the joy of giving is not a platitude. It’s a real and wonderful thing. And the joy of asking is a close second.

As we find ourselves in fundraising season (right on the heels of a fairly dreadful pre-season) we need to make a concerted effort to reach out and engage with people. Written communication is a key part of our jobs, but it keeps us isolated and that’s not healthy right now.

Staying connected to our donors is not just good for the bottom line, it’s good for us — as professionals and as human beings.

So schedule time in your week to reach out to your donors. Pick up the phone or set up a Zoom meeting or, when feasible and if you’re comfortable, arrange a socially distant meeting in person.

You may just find yourself having a good cry or a good laugh with someone who enjoys giving as much as you enjoy asking.

The post Oh, That Fundraising Moment! appeared first on Front Range Source.

This year, things are uncertain and challenging (to say the least!). But Americans have a tradition of giving at the end of the year The giving season will happen – even in 2020 – and you need to be ready!

I wish I could say that there was a silver bullet or a crystal ball or some kind of secret plan. But the fact is that the best thing to do right now is to ground yourself in the basics:

Take a look at your results so far: Revisit your financial reports to see where you are in budget compared to actual and determine how much you need to raise by December 31st.

Create year-end targets: Even if December 31st is not your fiscal year, it’s still helpful to have a year-end goal. Take a look at your fundraising results as well as your financial reports to get a sense of how your fundraising has done to this date.

Put a plan in place: My plan is organized by the big chunks of work we are looking at over the next few months and the channels of giving: mail, digital, event, and major gift solicitation. Yours could be organized by audience: membership, middle donors, major donors, and foundations. Whatever works for you! Make sure your plan is SMARTIE (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound, inclusive, and equitable).

Work your message: This year, more than ever, is a time for communicating with your donors. It’s important to have something relevant to say when you go out with your year-end appeal. Canvass your organization and some of your closest donors to see what messages might carry you through these next couple months. For my organization that means we have to create a message that takes us through the election. No matter what happens, our work is still critical into 2021 and I bet yours is, too.

Have the reports in place to track progress: One thing about year-end fundraising that I’ve found never fails is that the pace can sweep you up quickly. So, be sure to have reports created now that you can easily populate and track your results. These reports should track dollars and donors so that you can spot opportunities and weaknesses, and pivot quickly, if necessary.

And don’t forget to check in with the people that can help you make this happen: staff, leadership, board, volunteers, and the donors themselves. What are they hearing that connects your work to what is going on? What channels of communication are they using? How are they thinking about giving during this tumultuous year?

You’re going to need the basics to help you carry this thing through.

If you’re looking for some inspiration, attend the Rocky Mountain Philanthropy Institute’s Virtual Conference this year. Ann is the RMPI Co-Chair this year! And there’s a great line-up of speakers and plenty to help you weather the rest of 2020.

And – as always – if you need a little guidance or have something to share with others, please leave a comment here. We love hearing from you!

Image by Gloria Kaye via Pixabay

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