The clock is ticking. The giving year is quickly coming to a close. Are you ready?
Let’s review three simple, yet specific, steps you can take to maximize the potential for donor giving here at the end of the calendar year. Let’s get you setup and ready to roll in the NEXT calendar year!
1. Attempt to get meetings scheduled.
The last weeks of the year are beyond busy, causing many to be tempted to simply not “bother” people. Notice I didn’t say just schedule meetings – I am saying attempt to get meetings scheduled. Hopefully your networks know by now your message and purpose. It’s time to remind them about the work you are doing to impact lives and to plant a seed for giving. Reach out to people – communicate.
Hearing from you is not the same as being pressured by you. If you have ever shared with someone what you do and the ways funding is used, check in with them now and give them an update. What should you say? Keep it short and honest. Try, “Hey, I really would love to be able to meet with you face-to-face and share with you more of what we are doing and what we are working on in the future. I know this is a busy time of the year so here are a couple of times that would work for me in January. Let me know if these work for you and let’s get something on the calendar.”
Hearing from you shows:
- You are professional.
- You are diligent.
- You are attentive to them.
- You know them.
- You are focused on them.
Take note, friends. Follow up and make appointments. Try to get people on the calendar even if it means pushing them off until January. Finishing the year strong with appointments set up for January initiates our goal to maximize at a reasonable pace every month of the year for meeting with people face-to-face.
2. Look at the communication you have already sent out…or that you plan to send out.
Information and messages have already been sent out. Now, remind them. Personally. Individually. You’ve communicated the message to the masses, so the second touch need be only a few lines, three to five sentences as a forward followed by the previously sent information.
You could email something like the following: “Hey, we sent this out a few weeks ago to everyone in our community. I just want to make sure you heard from me personally and I really hope you will take the time to look at this. It is going to encourage you. Thank you for all you have been doing, and thank you for taking the time to really think about including our work in your year-end giving.”
This shows your attentiveness to the individual and they are going to notice it.
3. Say Thank You
Make sure people are hearing from you via phone calls to just express gratitude for their gift. “Thank you so much for your past giving. I just want to make sure you heard from me personally about how much we appreciate you, especially at this time of year.”
What about those who aren’t giving? Thank them, too! “Thank you so much for being a part of what we are doing and being interested in keeping up with our communication, paying attention to us, and praying for us. We just appreciate you! I know you get so much communication from a many different organizations. But, we are so very grateful that you are paying attention to what we are doing.”
Look for opportunities to show appreciation.
And that’s it! Three simple, but impactful ways to end your year with a giving bang. I wish you the very best. Keep pushing!
If you are looking for more tips, tools, and resources to help move your vision forward connect with us personally!