Annual Giving

What is Annual Giving?

What Annual Giving is NOT

A single fund A single appealA single campaign

Annual giving is one of the most important areas in an organization's fundraising efforts. Annual giving consists of many separate solicitation vehicles. When these vehicles are assembled together with skill, they can form the foundation of the institution's philanthropic support.

Some great elements to consider for your Annual Giving Plan:

Peer to Peer

Online Giving

Monthly Donor

Direct Mail/Email

Peer to Peer

Peer to Peer

PROs CONs

• Can be very exciting

• Might be little work on your part

• Can bring new donors

• Can result in a good ROI

• Can be unpredictable

• Difficult to project results

• If through a third party, make sure you can get donor/participant data

• Third Party Event style Peer to Peer fundraising may have a very low percentage to give to your organization.

Monthly Donors:

• Are committed to your organization

• Provide consistent funding

• Save your resources

• Are more likely to leave a legacy gift to your organization

• Like these little geese, their gifts may be small but they are many AND they will likely grow

Monthly Donor Program Plan

• What’s in a name

• Communication Plan• Insider information

• Suppress from Direct Mail

• Appreciation & recognition

Monthly Donor Giving Options

• ACH (our favorite)

• Credit card automation

• PayPal

• Checks in envelopes

• Direct Mail

• United Way

Online Giving

Online Giving

• Make giving easy from HOME

• Make giving easy on your form

Direct Mail / Email

Direct Mail Considerations

• Do we ASK in our newsletters?

• Do we have a special appeal or ask letter at specific times of year?

• Do we invite our donors to become monthly donors after end-of-year giving?

• Are we acquiring new donors?

Most importantly in Direct Mail/Email:

Tell client stories!

Next Steps• Develop your plan for

Annual Giving

• Pick one thing this year to focus on, and develop to either improve or launch

• Once that piece is in place move to another piece until your plan is diversified for your organization

Resources

• Association of Fundraising Professionals

• Non-Profit Connect

• Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership

• NonProfit Happy Hour

Questions?

Thank you!

Presentation Notes

Monthly Donors:Whatever their method, treat them special but be economical about it. A solid group of monthly donors can help sustain your organization.

Online Giving:Online giving is an important element to any Annual Giving Program. Whether you are using an email marketing system or driving your website visitors to give from their computer or device this channel of giving is a key component.

How much patience do you have with transactions on the world wide web? How many sales transactions do you abandon?

The KEY HERE IS EASE for the donor. They expect it.

Direct Mail:The real life stories of the lives changed through your organization thanks to the support and generosity of donors will motivate people to sustain and increase their giving. Those stories are better than baby animals!

Resources:I highly recommend these organizations to help develop your plan and elements within your plan. Any of these will offer trainings and webinars to help you zoom in and focus your Annual Giving strategies.