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Fundraising Tuesday: December is a Wake-Up Call

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Following up on your fundraising appeal letter is the most important thing you can do to raise money this year.

I know you put a lot of work into writing an excellent letter to donors—even the ideal appeal letter. It was even more work to lay it out, produce it, and get it into the mail.

It would be so tempting right about now to take a nap. Just hit the Snooze button and wake up on December 31. But there’s a reason for the saying, “If you snooze, you lose.”

December is a wake-up call

alarm clock DecemberThere are so many other worthy causes competing for those donations. Donors have already dug deep in 2021 to help people in their communities meet their basic needs.

By the end of the year, they may have spent their whole budget for charitable gifts on other organizations—unless you follow up with them now.

So, wake up! And read Three Powerful Ways to Follow up Your Fundraising Letter in 2020. It’s my guest post on Robin Cabral’s blog…and it may save your end-of-year appeal.

TY Thursday: How Often Should You Thank Donors?

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First-time donors and repeat donors. Average size givers and major givers. People who give annually, quarterly, or monthly. What do they all have in common?

They love to be thanked.

But your attitude of gratitude shouldn’t have an expiration date.

Thanking the donor only begins when you receive the gift. All year, there are opportunities to say to the donor, ” You’re my hero. Because of you, this wonderful thing is happening!”

How and When to Thank Donors

What are the various ways you can say “Thank you,” and how often should you do it? For the answers, see my guest post Thank your donors before you ask again, on Robin Cabral’s blog. Then, put those TY’s on your calendar!

Fundraising Tuesday: Don’t Sleep on Your Donors in December

by Leave a Comment

Following up on your fundraising appeal letter is the most important thing you can do to raise money this year.

I know you put a lot of work into writing an excellent letter to donors—even the ideal appeal letter. It was even more work to lay it out, produce it, and get it into the mail. (Especially in 2020, when we are doing everything remotely and the post office has been buried in ballots.)

It would be so tempting right about now to take a nap. Just hit the Snooze button and wake up on December 31. But there’s a reason for the saying, “If you snooze, you lose.”

December 2020 is a wake-up call

alarm clock DecemberThere are so many other worthy causes competing for those donations in the middle of the pandemic. Donors have already dug deep in 2020 to help people in their communities meet their basic needs.

By the end of the year, they may have spent their whole budget for charitable gifts on other organizations—unless you follow up with them now.

So, wake up! And read Three Powerful Ways to Follow up Your Fundraising Letter in 2020. It’s my guest post on Robin Cabral’s blog…and it may save your end-of-year appeal.

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