Don’t Ever Give Up on Monthly Giving Programs!
Last week, my husband and I took a trip, ultimately leading to visit our kids and grandkids.
We flew to Norfolk, Virginia, and then drove down to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, to visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial. My husband is a private general aviation pilot, so this national park was high on his bucket list, and it did not disappoint.
The park ranger did a great job telling the Wright brothers' story and the evolution of their courage and perseverance, teamwork, and process that led to the first flight.
After four years of scientific experimentation, Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved the first successful airplane flights on a cold Dec. 17, 1903.
Can you imagine what the world would look like if they had not done this?
- I would not have flown cross-Atlantic to immigrate to this country almost 29 years ago.
- We would not be able to easily visit our kids and grandkids.
- We would not be able to have conferences or business meetings on the other side of the country, etc. (Let’s face it — virtual is great, but nothing beats in-person gatherings.)
The theme of the exhibits at the Wright Brothers National Memorial visitor center focused on several wonderful motivational messages, which helped to motivate the Wright brothers.
But those are also oh so true when it comes to monthly giving:
- Make the impossible possible.
- Finish what you start.
- Reach for the stars: achieve your dream.
- Think outside of the box.
- And the one I like the best is: Keep going. Don’t ever give up!
Recurring giving, sustainers, monthly giving is certainly not as exciting as those first flights were. It’s certainly not as world changing, but, to your organization, it could very well be a major game changer.
So, don’t ever give up. Get started. Then reach for the stars, and you’ll achieve more monthly donors than you have ever dreamed of.
- Categories:
- Monthly Giving
- Recurring Donations
Erica Waasdorp is one of the leading experts on monthly giving. She is the president of A Direct Solution, a company serving nonprofit organizations with fundraising and direct marketing needs, with a focus on monthly giving and appeals. She authored "Monthly Giving: The Sleeping Giant" and "Monthly Giving Made Easy." She regularly blogs and presents on fundraising, appeals and monthly giving — in person and through webinars. She is happy to answer any questions you may have about this great way of improving retention rates for your donors.
Erica has over 30 years of experience in nonprofits and direct response. She helped the nonprofits she works with raise millions of dollars through monthly giving programs. She is also very actively supports organizations with annual fund planning and execution, ranging from copywriting, creative, lists, print and mail execution.
When she’s not working or writing, Erica can be found on the golf course (she’s a straight shooter) or quietly reading a book. And if there’s an event with a live band, she and her husband, Patrick, can be found on the dance floor. She also loves watching British drama on PBS. Erica and Patrick have two step sons and a cat, Mientje.
