Movement is the natural state of things.  Change is constant, unavoidable, and incredibly reliable.  This truth isn’t lost on Annual Giving, a field that has changed considerably over the past several decades.  Indeed, Annual Giving isn’t what it used to be.

Annual Giving then was a great place to get your start in development.  It was small gifts, direct mail, and volunteer call nights.  It wasn’t part of “the campaign.”  It was somehow less in important.

Annual Giving now is something different.  It’s something much bigger, much more complex and much more important.  It’s online, data driven, and a career unto itself.  Annual Giving isn’t simply a part most campaigns today, it’s the single most important part of every organization’s next campaign.

No, Annual Giving isn’t what it used to be.  It’s much, much better.

Having recently closed the books on the holiday giving season (a time when most individuals make their charitable donations), the poll suggests some reason for optimism for many organizations amid a still uncertain economy.

Please join Dean Hughes (Executive Director of Annual & Leadership Giving at The University of Toronto) and me at at the 2012 CASE District 1 & 2 Conference in New York City for a 75 minute discussion on how and why annual giving programs play a central role in building a culture of philanthropy at educational and other non-profit organizations. 

While new media, information technology and a changing economy have created many challenges for annual giving program managers, they also provide new lenses through which we can view the industry.  Using data and examples, this session will examine the ever-changing field of annual giving and the increasingly important role that it plays in developing a community and culture where alumni, students, faculty, and staff understand and appreciate the importance of giving every year.

This session will take place on Monday, January 23rd from 11am – 12:15pm.  Click here for more detail and registration information.

We look forward to seeing you!

The farmer works throughout the year in anticipation of the harvest.  For months, he furrows, seeds, and feeds his soil, forgoing immediate results in anticipation of the time when his labor will yield results.  Then he reaps his crop and takes it to market where he hopes to receive enough in return to sustain his farm until the next season.

The harvest cycle is annual and a good farmer knows this.  He understands the uncertainties (e.g., weather) that surround his farm and he plans accordingly.

The annual giving cycle is very similar.  Like a good farmer, a good fundraiser understands the uncertainties (e.g., economy) that surround his program and he plans accordingly.

So, when planning your next annual campaign, start by identifying what to harvest and when.  Consider the fact that many U.S. fundraising organizations register the majority of their individual donors in the final month of the tax year while many of these same organizations register the majority of their gift revenue in the final month of the fiscal year.

Then ask yourself, are you planning accordingly?

* image by Gregory Frank Harris (b. 1953)

There are only three days between now and Christmas.  What’s more, today is the shortest day of the year.  The clock is ticking, so what will you get your friends in annual giving this year?

Here are a few ideas:

- A piggy bank

- A calendar

- A postage meter

- A copy of The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

- An invitation to join the Annual Giving Network.

- A donation

Haiku is an ancient form of Japanese poetry that contains 17 on in three phrases of 5, 7 and 5.  On are very similar to syllables and are often mistaken for them in English.  Two other characteristics of Haiku are that two images are compared and that a “season word” (known as kigo) is used.

Here is some haiku for annual giving:

Tax year end is here

The seeds of change are planted

With a reminder

Many parent couples will tell you that going from two to three children requires a shift from a man-to-man to a zone defense.  With two, you can divide and conquer.  With three, you’re outnumbered.

In development, we often encourage a man-to-man strategy.  We commonly assign our best prospects to gift officers, who can focus on personalized outreach, solicitation and stewardship.

The truth is that it’s rarely the work of a single individual that results in a gift.  Good fundraisers know this.  They also know who needs to be where and when, what to look for and why.  They don’t worry about getting credit for closing gifts.  They worry about what’s needed to advance the gift conversation.

Good fundraisers know they don’t need to do it all themselves.  Rather, like many parents, they just need to know how to manage their zones.

Dear Angry Donor:

Thank you for your email and for your generous past support.  The organization benefits directly from your gifts, and your commitment to its mission will have an impact on the world for many years to come.  We count on you.

I appreciate your concerns and will make a special point of conveying your feedback to others.  We greatly value the opinions and feelings of our leaders.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to be helpful in the future.

With gratitude,

You

* source – Dr. Robyn Silverman