Annual Campaigns

An Army veteran said the USO's use of the Purple Heart image in its fundraising campaign creates a misleading impression about the award given to service members wounded in combat. The USO's fundraising materials sent in April included personalized return address labels featuring an image of the Purple Heart next to the veteran's name and…

The annual appeal concept is one that holds to the idea that donors give one time, once a year, hence the words “annual gift” or the question, “Has the donor made their annual gift yet?” Fundraising programs built on this philosophy look to secure that one gift once a year, and then the work is finished. There are several things wrong with this concept...

The United Way of the Midlands is changing the way it raises money as it adapts to the changing nature of the workplace and to intensifying needs within the community. Shawna Forsberg, president and chief executive officer at the United Way, said the organization no longer will announce a specific funding goal each August and…

If you're on a June/July fiscal year, you need to make plans now for a strong year's end. That means updating your messaging that you decided last July was the best approach. It means confirming or lining up your interviews for those story-based letters. It means making sure that you're still sending to the right segments.

This is incredibly effective! If you ask me to do one or two strategic things, I can and will accomplish them. Get me loaded up with a bunch—and especially things that I am not comfortable doing—I'll shut down.

Did you know that billions of contributions are in play right now? Donors will, in fact, be giving vast amounts of money to charities in the next three weeks. Many organizations will receive up to a third of their entire annual giving this month.

Are you ready for a huge spike in online gifts this month? I hope so! Because the money — and the donors — are out there.

Focusing on high-cash giving not only maximizes actual year-end returns, but more importantly, builds motivation and commitment in the segment of your donor base with the greatest inclination to give.

Be explicit, don't beat around the bush, get to the point and be clear in your fundraising appeal letter. You'll raise more money if you do!

Learn how liberal arts institution Vassar College executed a crowdfunding campaign for its annual fund.