Your nonprofit could be raising up to 40 percent of its total annual revenue during just the last six weeks of the year, if you use a variety of fundraising channels, according to some of the leading nonprofit fundraising authorities.
A fascinating report by Charity Navigator asked 110 charities and 550 donors the following question: “What percentage of annual contributions from individuals does your charity receive at year-end. While the answers literally ranged from 0 percent to 100 percent, on average, these charities received 41 percent of their annual contributions during the yearend fundraising season (roughly speaking, Thanksgiving to New Year’s.)
What’s even crazier is that the statistics show nearly one-third of annual donations take place on the 31st of December!
More compelling statistics:
- An estimated $390.05 billion was raised through charitable donations in 2016. – Giving USA
- 72% of all charitable gifts in 2016 came from individuals. − Giving USA
- The average person makes 24 percent of his or her annual charitable donations between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. − Center on Philanthropy
- A third (33 percent) of the donations made in the month of December occur on the 31st of the month − Network for Good
- The peak giving time on December 31 is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in each time zone − Network for Good
So, what does this all mean for your 501(c)(3) nonprofit? It means you need to develop a well thought-out, strategic Yearend Campaign.
A Yearend Campaign may have many names, such as End of Year Campaign or Holiday Campaign, but in the end, they are all really the same thing. In its most basic form, these are simply fundraising campaigns that run at the end of the year. For our purposes, we will define an end of year campaign as:
An organized, multi-faceted fundraising campaign that capitalizes on the substantial end of year giving season and which is part of an organization’s comprehensive annual donor-cultivation practices.
Let’s look at some of the key ideas from this definition:
ORGANIZED
A Yearend Campaign, just like any successful fundraising campaign, must include a detailed plan, and that plan cannot be created in seclusion. It should, alternatively, be coordinated across groups and departments within your organization, including other development campaigns and marketing techniques. An end of year campaign should not be seen as a single fundraising event, but instead, as a part of your larger effort to attract, cultivate and retain your donor base.
MULTI-FACETED
A successful Yearend Campaign must have multiple touch points across an organized period of time, meaning that you reach the same donor on many occasions and in many ways, in order to generate interest and fully engage your supporters. This can be done by coordinating the Yearend Campaign into your nonprofit’s overall marketing plan, including social media, email, direct mail, and event-based fundraising.
GIVING SEASONS
Research of trends in giving has proven that for many individuals, the end of the calendar year is one of the most likely times for them to donate to and support the charitable causes they are closest to, as they close out their donations for that tax year. At the same time, the various winter religious holidays often trigger thoughts of giving and altruism in general. Whatever the reason, the end of the year is the most advantageous time to reach out to your community and encourage those charitable donations.
PART OF MORE COMPREHENSIVE DONOR CULTIVATION PRACTICES
Securing an end of year donation should not be your organization’s ultimate goal. Instead, the first donation that a supporter makes to your nonprofit should instead be viewed as the start of a long and fruitful relationship. Just like customers in for-profit businesses, it is much easier and less costly to encourage an existing supporter to donate a second or third time than it is to secure additional new donors. Therefore, it is essential for not for profit organizations to build a strong follow-up donor loyalty program to continuously reach the individuals who give an end of year donation, and to focus on retaining those donors for years to come.
A comprehensive Yearend Campaign should span the months of November and December, and include a variety of methods to reach your constituents. Incorporating a variety of teasers, stories, and appeals, and reaching each potential donor with multiple touch-points, is necessary to ensure that your fundraising season proves to be fruitful.
Need Help Developing a Successful Yearend Fundraising Plan? Get Help from the Experts.
Developing diverse and creative fundraising resources may not be the easiest thing to do, but it certainly is not the most difficult either, especially when you’re working with BryteBridge Nonprofit Solutions. Our team of experts is skilled and trained in all aspects of nonprofit management, including fundraising. Contact us on +1 (407) 857 9002 today or visit our website.
