The Winter Holidays seem to bring out the best in us. Not only does volunteerism increase, but the desire to “do something” is at a high for the year and research shows that giving increases in November and December.
Whether donors start looking at tax deductions or their hearts are simply touched, the holiday season is a great time to raise awareness of your cause and increase giving. This is also a great time to seek out corporate partners who would be willing to support your cause.
Corporate partnerships can benefit your cause in many ways. The corporation may roll out their fundraising efforts to their employees, increasing awareness and putting your organization at the top of their mind during this busy giving season. In addition, the corporation could choose to do a matching campaign, by matching all contributions made to your cause by their employee within a designated period of time. Partnerships formed during this season can be built upon in the new year.
This is also a great time to promote your giving options. Do you have a great online giving program, but it seems to be the community’s best kept secret? Post links to the online giving page on Facebook and twitter and encourage your followers to share the links. Talk about your giving options in press releases and interviews and mention the options in your newsletter. The easier it is to give, the more likely a donor will follow through. Don’t forget, you can also create a custom website through TravelPledge that will generate donations from vacation rentals.
When it’s all said and done, remember to say thank you, thank you, thank you! Donors need to feel that they are making a difference and that their contribution matters, regardless of the amount. For first time donors, a handwritten note is a nice touch, if possible. Either way, be sure to include some information about how the donation will be used and how lives will be transformed because they gave.
While there is a natural increase in giving during the holiday season, a little extra effort can increase awareness of your cause well into the New Year.