Holiday Fundraisers: Ideas You’ll Love

The greeting card industry has done us a great service: they have created a holiday for every month to make sure we have something grand to celebrate. Be it Valentine’s Day with its saccharin sappiness or Halloween and its sugar-high loaded spooky splendor, nonprofits are sure to find some way to capitalize on these fundraising opportunities. Here are a few ways to make the most of these special days.

1)      Matching Fund Day – I came across a great campaign called Giving Hearts Day in which one couple is willing to match funds up to $4,000 for every donation that comes in on Valentine’s Day. Choosing a holiday is great for donors to remember when to give and is perfect for charities that are in the health care industry, a heart disease foundation, etc.

2)      Banquet Time – I know I focus on banquets a lot, but this is a perfect way to gather a bunch of donors together and with a holiday, the theme is already built in. On a night like Valentine’s Day
many people are already going to drop a pretty penny on a special night out; why not create an evening of dinner and dancing to support your cause?

3)      Client Focused Events – Most people tend to get super sentimental about any holidays. It seems to bring up elementary school construction paper projects and a sense of nostalgia that brings forth a generous spirit. Tap into this opportunity by creating a special project that brings donor volunteers and maybe your charity’s clientele together. An informal party, craft project, concert, or play would make the day memorable and cause your supporters to become more emotionally invested in your mission.

4)      Perfect Time to Show Appreciation – E-cards are free and can show appreciation for your donors while wishing them a happy holiday. It is important to stay in contact with donors and this is a perfect time to say thank you. For Valentine’s Day you can say “We love our donors!” or on St. Patrick’s Day you can write “We’re lucky to have you.” Cheesy? Probably. Does it get the job done? You bet.

We all know that Thanksgiving and Christmas are the biggest giving seasons of the year, but every month seems to have a day of celebration. Why not use that as an online fundraising strategy? You can easily post your events, thank yous and campaigns on your website or in Facebook posts and reach a multitude of supporters. Get into the spirit of the season!