b'DAYTODAYPractical help with the operations and ministry of your organization FINDING FUNDSRoy JonesDecember Giving MattersNavigating through yearend giving in uncertain economic timesD ecember has changed for many non- Dont be afraid to mail these appeals first class, profits. Volatile stock markets at year- especially to your middle and major donors. I end combined with expensive, divisivewould be remiss if I didnt tell you that this does political campaigns are forcing nonprofits tonot include your Christmas card or Christmas rethink the giving calendar.gifts for selected donors. Those are additional touches over and above your two appeals.Visit oneonone with your majors. How many $5,000+ donors do you have in your file? Do all you can to thank them in person in December. Decide how many visits you can do personally and then MAKE IT HAPPEN. Christmas cook-ies or a homemade Christmas ornament are a wonderful way to build a relationship. You dont have to have an appointment to drop off a little Christmas spirit. You will lift giving to your appeals by 20 percent just by thanking someone in person.Win back your big lapsed donors at yearend. In December, reaching out to the no shows My recommendation is to stay the course.who have been your mid to major donors is Push hard at year-end, despite the distractions,increasingly important. Contacting these especially as a faith-based ministry. Remember,missing donors should be a focus of January, not only does our tax code drive donors to year- too. Begin those conversations simply making Roy, CFRE, is a nonprofit leaderend giving, but Thanksgiving and Christmas aresure the donor and their family are OK. Then who has worked with more than 70 missions, shelters, and foodtrue motivations for giving. pivot and ask if you or the ministry have made banks. He has more than 35 yearsThe facts are clear about when donors give.a mistake or done something wrong. The of experience in leading nonprofitOver half of all giving happens in the fourthdonor nearly always says of course not, that organizations. He now serves asquarter, and half of that occurs in the month ofthey simply forgot to make a gift. the chief development officer at Eckerd Connects. December, and half of that amount happens theDecember is special for so many reasons. Be careful Note: Roy Jones donated more thanlast week of December, and half of that happensabout how much PTO or vacation time is used in 200 hours serving our members the last day of December. Stay the course the month of December. If the development team last year. He offers a free, one-hour major donor consultation to all Double up your appeals in December. Yes, youmust be away, make sure that they are accessible to Citygate Network members.should do an appeal at the beginning of theyour donors by cell phone. Be there for your Email rjones@fitfundraising.commonth and again at the end of the month.donors. There is a reason for the season. \x03to schedule a consultation.50 WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022'