Before I joined the GiveMN team, every December as a fundraiser meant I was sending a flurry of year-end emails, making donor thank you calls, organizing the last direct mail campaign of the year, entering gifts into the database until my fingers fell off—all while fending off the gloom of shorter, darker days that the Minnesota winter brings. That’s all to say: I see you.
I see you, my fellow fundraisers, doing everything you can to make sure more people are fed, children have opportunities, arts and culture are kept alive, our environment is protected, and so much more. That is no small feat. You’re extending hope and opportunity to your neighbors so that they can get involved in something they care about. You’re helping your program colleagues deliver the critical mission work they do year-round. You’re ensuring that eventually, when the days get longer and brighter, your organization will continue to have the resources it needs to keep going.
Even though year-end fundraising represents more than a quarter of annual revenue for many nonprofits, it’s not about the money. The money comes because you have built strong relationships and connections with people who care about your mission. The money is a representation of the care, heart, and bravery you’ve put out into the world!
I didn’t join GiveMN’s team because I wanted to avoid the calendar year-end rush of fundraising. In fact, it’s the opposite for all of the fundraisers here on the GiveMN Green Team! We joined because we understand what you’re going through and we want to help make it a bit easier for you in the ways that we can.
Whether you’re looking for digital fundraising tools like our retention reports or peer-to-peer fundraisers, seeking a fundraising coach to help you dive deeper into your strategy, or something in-between, we’re here for you today and every day. You show up and make Minnesota a better place to live, so we’re here to show up for you.
Thank you for being a beacon of hope in Minnesota…we are proud to be your partner!
Courtney Backen (장정미) is GiveMN's director of community and capacity development.