Annual Campaigns

Despite a tough economy, the United Way of the Southern Tier’s 2010 fundraising campaign set an all-time record, bringing in more than $4.5 million in community donations, officials announced Tuesday.

The campaign total of $4,533,643 was an increase of $134,631 from 2009. It broke the previous record, set in 2008, by nearly $5,000.

YMCA of the Triangle raised just more than $4 million in its annual WeBuildPeople campaign, the most ever for the annual effort. The campaign provides funds for families, adults and children to participate in YMCA programs, regardless of their ability to pay.

The YMCA also received a $200,000 gift from the SAS Championship.

Even with a strong annual-giving program in place, I found the greatest payoff came from looking deeply to evaluate the program comprehensively and strategically.

Each year, by introducing one strategic, well-planned, high-impact change, we were able to see more than 10 percent growth annually.

Over time, I compiled a list of best practices to help me evaluate my program and stay focused on the essentials:

The Salvation Army raised a record $142 million during the 2010 annual Red Kettle Christmas Campaign. The increase of just over two percent from 2009’s record of $139 million raised reflects the continued determination of every American to support their neighbors during challenging economic times. The Salvation Army’s 2010 campaign employed traditional efforts with volunteers, celebrity endorsements and corporate partners such as Walmart and Sam’s Club, along with new technology and social media tools to set a campaign record for the sixth year in a row.

As charities gear up for the third holiday fund-raising season in a down economy, nonprofits are searching for ways to unlock the Grinch-like spirit gripping many donors. But finding new approaches that produce strong results remains elusive for many groups.

An organizations seeking a new way to solicit is the Nature Conservancy — starting its online year-end campaign 15 days earlier this year. But the organization is avoiding asking for money right away, instead spotlighting what scientists say about environmental issues and other topics.

Here are the four forever facts about fundraising.

Wednesday is World AIDS Day, and many celebrities will stop communicating via Twitter and Facebook. They will not be resuscitated, they say, until their fans donate $1 million.

It’s all part of the latest gambit by the singer-songwriter Alicia Keys to raise money for her charity, Keep a Child Alive, which finances medical care and support services for children and families affected by H.I.V. and AIDS in Africa and India.

More than 3,000 Minnesota charities, churches, schools and nonprofits are bracing for one of their biggest fundraising days of the year Tuesday -- "Give to the Max Day."

The 24-hour online giving blitz, which raked in an astounding $14 million last year, has generated a blizzard of creative ideas to call attention to the big day.

Donors are upbeat about end-of-year giving. Here are some helpful links to check out regarding your end-of-year fundraising campaigns.

Year-end online fundraising doesn't just happen in December. Here are nine practical steps fundraisers can take now to raise more money online in December.