Fundraising Flair: Using the 10th Birthday to Bolster Your Fundraising
People love celebrating milestones. Anniversaries and significant birthdays are causes for celebration, reflection, and, importantly, a time to look to the future. It’s easy for you to tap into this excitement and raise more money for your program.
As you know, this school year is a special one. While it may not be your program’s 10th year operating, you can still leverage the organization’s 10th birthday for your fundraising.
Donate your Birthday
You might have noticed that one of the current trends in philanthropy is donating your birthday. All this means is that someone requests that their friends and family make donations to a specific charity (your program of Blessings in a Backpack!) instead of asking for personal gifts. This is a straightforward and effective way to gain new donors and get people to fundraise for your program!
Ask your supporters to donate their birthdays in honor of the 10th birthday.
- Direct them to the Pledge Your Birthday page on our site. Here people can tell us that they’re planning to donate their birthday and we will send them reminders four, three, two, and one week away, giving them further instructions on how to donate their birthday, including how to use Facebook, etc.
- Remember to instruct your supporters to designate your program on the form!
Make a Special Ask
Your best prospects for future donations are your current donors! They’ve already expressed a desire to help your program, and it is rare that someone becomes offended for you asking too much. When developing a mailed solicitation or planning for a meeting with a donor, be prepared to make a special ask for the 10th birthday.
- You can either ask for a larger gift when you usually solicit the donor, or you can make an additional, special ask referencing the birthday.
- Tip: Tell a story! If you happen to know a particularly moving story that was a result of your program, tell that!
Consider hosting a gathering (birthday party!)
You don’t have to host a gala or fancy affair to make a meaningful connection with your supporters. This year presents a unique opportunity for you to hold an inexpensive gathering. Host a birthday party for Blessings in a Backpack.
- Send out invitations to your birthday party and invite supporters—donors and prospects—to come celebrate the work your program has accomplished.
- Again, this doesn’t have to be an expensive event. Tell your supporters what you will have (for example, maybe you will have a birthday cake) and ask them to bring a dish to share.
- If you haven’t already, request a Blessings in a Backpack Birthday Box to get your party started.
- At the event, share stories of the program’s work and discuss your plans for the program. How many kids are you aiming to serve next year?
- Have a call-to-action and ask attendees to make a gift in honor of the birthday.
