Fundraising

Congratulations! You’re almost through the first quarter of 2021 and the hardest few months of your fundraising year are almost behind you. The best is now before you, but what are you doing to make it your best year ever?

In this FREE major gift fundraising guide, we offer you the keys to fundraising success with less stress.

In a recent survey we did at Choose Life Marketing, many of you indicated 2020 has been a struggle when it comes to fundraising. You know year end giving is important – and you are counting on a strong finish. For many centers, nearly half of their donations come in during the fourth quarter of the year. If you have had a challenging year raising funds, you still have time to make up for any event deficits and unexpected expenses. Or, maybe you are ready to look forward to 2021 and God has given you a big vision for your pregnancy center that requires additional funds to support that vision. Now is a great time to raise those funds, too!

It’s September, and hard to believe it’s time to start thinking about your plan for your year-end giving campaign. Do you know what stories of impact you want to share? Do you have statistics you want to highlight? Will you be creating direct mail pieces, social media posts and eblasts? What is your fundraising goal for the end of the year? Is your donor website up-to-date and engaging?

Most year end campaigns kick-off just before Thanksgiving and go through the very last day of December. We encourage you not to wait until October or even November as last minute planning may impact your bottom line. This has been a unique year – as you consider year end giving, there is much to share about how you overcame, made an impact despite challenges and share about exciting plans you have for 2021!

Know that Choose Life Marketing is available to partner with you in any of these year-end fundraising tactics. At the end of this guide there is information on a special we are offering this month to support your pregnancy center in reaching your year-end fundraising goals.

Years ago there was a public service message on TV every night at 10 pm that asked the question, “Do you know where your children are?” Do you remember that?

We have a new question for you:
“Do you know where your donors are?” 

Many pregnancy centers and other pro-life organizations are making false assumptions about their donors giving capacity during this pandemic.  The shortfall for most is not due to diminished donor giving capacity – it is a logistical issue.   If your revenue is down, it is likely due to a postponed or canceled event or  a shift to a virtual event.  If you are feeling overwhelmed by accelerated needs brought on by Coronavirus, against the backdrop of reduced revenue, we have tools to help you.   

A newly released study by Fidelity Charitable indicates that 80% of major donors plan to give the same or more than they did last year, even in the face of this crisis. Further, the study indicated that most donors do not plan to shift their giving to different organizations in light of the pandemic; they will stay the course by continuing to support their favorite nonprofits and missions they are passionate about. As an added bonus, the recently passed CARES Act also expands tax deductions for charitable giving this year, providing many major donors with a powerful incentive to give more.

What does this mean for you? You need to simply ask.

Raising major gifts in the midst of this pandemic? You are likely concerned about your finances. A survey of nonprofits in early April by Charity Navigator and Reuters News showed that 83% of respondents reported they are suffering financially. The pregnancy centers and other prolife organizations we work with have shared their many concerns over their present and future financial situation due to cancelled or postponed events and donor job loss. These are legitimate concerns for ministries who depend on the generosity of others for their daily income.

Did you know that for the past 45 years, charitable giving increased every year except for three (1977 – the height of the energy crisis and 2008/2009 – the great recession)? Those three years showed a decline in charitable gifts. However, during the 2008/2009 recession, the decrease was in giving that was not relationship based. Those who are most connected to nonprofits have historically stayed connected in hard times. Both your major gift development and faithful monthly givers will carry you through even in the hardest of economic downturns because of your strong relationship with them. Realistically, due to job loss and other factors, you have to expect some donors to take a break from giving. However, trends show that others will step up to help in a big way.

When we speak with pro-life organizations and pregnancy centers across the country, there is a common need expressed in every conversation – the desire for additional funds to have a greater impact. Whether its to help with growing your organization, increasing your staff, marketing, serving more clients, or advocating for life-affirming legislation and pro-life law makers, everyone needs more funding to put their passion into action.

Do you currently host an annual banquet or gala? At Choose Life Marketing, we consult with pro-life organizations of all sizes and missions, helping them achieve their fundraising goals. Though we have various strategies we suggest for successful fundraising, we recognize that many of these organizations rely on their annual events for a significant portion of their fundraising dollars.

Congratulations! You’ve just closed the books on 2019 and you are ready to start a new year and new decade. Now is a good time to look back and analyze your 2019 fundraising strategy…the good, the great and the not so good. Ask yourself: “What worked and what didn’t?” and use this as you move on to planning for 2020 and beyond.  

Have you considered a capital campaign to raise major funds? Your pregnancy center is growing and exciting things are ahead for your center and the people you serve. With growth comes opportunities to make an impact as well as a need for greater donor support. A capital campaign is a focused effort to raise significant dollars in a specified period of time. Often the money raised in a capital campaign is to fund the purchase or renovation of a building, but the campaign’s focus can also include building an endowment for the future. When implemented correctly, capital campaigns can be a highly effective fundraising tactic in addition to your regular fundraising strategy. Whether it’s your first time or you’ve been running them for years, in this guide we’ll cover all the basics so you can feel confident running your own capital campaign.

The end of the year can get very busy! Have you made your plan for year-end giving? Don’t get overwhelmed making your plan. In this guide, we offer a big-picture look at how you can successfully plan and execute a year-end giving campaign to raise funds for your center.

Is your fundraising banquet or Walk for Life just around the corner? Do you have a strategy in place for how you will market your event? A great marketing plan will increase ministry awareness, community engagement, and donor participation.