“Finishing Well”
When I think of the phrase, “finishing well,” I am reminded of Paul’s encouragement to Timothy “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). 2020 has been incredibly challenging from a fundraising perspective, but we must continue “fighting the good fight” to ensure the success of our year-end appeals and gift solicitations. Your fundraising activity in the final months of 2020 will be more critical than ever to catch up from the pandemic restrictions and limitations forced on us.
Our Fall and Year-End Solicitation Guideline included preliminary activities that you should have initiated over the summer months which included a Fall mail and email appeal in September. If you have not initiated your year-end gift planning, you are behind schedule and must work diligently to catch up.
Here are your October and November action steps:
October 2020
• Fall appeal follow up via email out on or before 10/15; customize for donor segmentation.
• Prepare draft of year-end appeal and personal solicitation materials. Copy should include information on benefits of planned gifts at year end; (stock gifts, IRA Rollovers, planned giving, etc.).
• Conduct Ministry Briefing event and arrange follow up visits to those attending event expressing interest in learning more about the ministry.
• Continue personal contact with major/mega donors to schedule personal visits during final quarter of 2020 by CEO, COO, and CDO; prepare sample script for contact by phone with goal of making visit appointments (not solicitation of gifts).
• Recruit team members to make “thank you” calls to major, mega, and faithful donor groups as part of year-end outreach. These will be acknowledgements of gifts received during 2020, particularly major gifts. Team members could/should include board members, administrative staff, development department staff and faithful friends or donors (volunteers) dedicated to the ministry’s mission and vision.
November 2020
• Initial year-end appeal sent out via email and snail mail on or before Nov. 15th.
• Conduct Ministry Briefing event and arrange follow up visits to those attending event expressing interest in learning more about the ministry.
• Continue personal contact with major/mega donors to schedule personal visits during final quarter of 2020 by CEO, COO and CDO; prepare sample script for contact by phone with goal of making visit appointments (not solicitation of gifts).
• Continue to recruit team members to make “thank you” calls to major, mega and faithful donor groups as part of year-end outreach. These will be acknowledgements of gifts received during 2020, particularly major gifts and reminder re: year-end appeal. Team members could/should include board members, administrative staff, development department staff and faithful friends or donors (volunteers) dedicated to the ministry’s mission and vision. Prepare sample script for call team members to use for donor outreach calls in December.
• CEO, COO, and CDO travel to make personal visits with key donors for solicitation of significant year-end gift commitments.
We will continue these Fall and Year-End Solicitation planning reminders through the end of this year. Please also visit our website for other resources that can assist you in specific planning for general appeals and major/mega donor contacts and gift requests. Do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of help or assistance.
Author: Dan DiDonato, Consulant
