What Bouldering and Donor Stewardship Have In Common

As is the fate of countless other 20-something year olds in search of fulfilling hobbies, I recently picked up bouldering. Despite the many years spent scoffing at the sport – wasn’t it basically just rock climbing? Why would I scale fake rocks at an indoor gym instead of going for a walk outside?  Who even bouldered besides tech bros and a very specific kind of granola guy? – the combined encouragement of a friend and a New Year’s resolution to move more brought me from the skeptical sidelines into the brightly lit and colorfully painted walls of a bouldering gym.

Much to my chagrin, I loved it from the very first visit. I loved putting chalk on my hands, puzzling out different bouldering routes, and feeling stronger as time went on. I even loved the granola guys/people who frequented the gym and shared friendly advice

If this newfound love for bouldering was surprising, what surprised me even more was that, in addition to all the amenities (hello, sauna), I loved the gym’s emails. Every week, I’d actively read through and enjoy their newsletter, highlighting upcoming events, gym-related news, and other gym goers.

It was in one such newsletter that they made a callout to my specific gym-going experience. Was I a fairly frequent gym-goer who had yet to purchase a membership? Check. Did I purchase day passes? Check. Was I enjoying the community of the gym? Check. Did I want to upgrade from a daily pass holder to a monthly membership owner? As I weighed the pros and cons of increased commitment, I found the decision easy. I already had money set aside in my budget for hobbies; I enjoyed bouldering; I wanted this space to continue existing, and I wanted to be a part of its existence. So, I took the leap and increased my commitment from inconsistent day-pass attendance to a monthly membership that translated into weekly bouldering sessions.  

As GiveMN’s fundraising coaches often share, creating opportunities for people to support your work and give in ways that align with their values is one of the most effective ways to increase fundraising. Case in point: although I now fully appreciate the value of my membership (thank you, discounted shoe rentals!), had they not asked, I would not have upgraded my commitment to the gym.

Many of us feel comfortable staying where we are. Consider your organization’s current donor stewardship strategy. Although you might be used to asking new donors to start giving, are you also creating opportunities for your existing donors to increase their giving and support of your impactful work? Do existing donors know why their increased investment would be valuable, both for your organization and for their own generosity goals? 

If making increased asks sounds intimidating or you’re still unsure what makes this an effective strategy, join the GiveMN team for our June Learn-Along: Upgrading Donors to the Next Level. In this hour-long virtual webinar, you’ll learn how to make asks that raise more money and increase donors’ understanding of your mission. We’ll cover tools like monthly giving, the no-cost customizations available on GiveMN.org, right-sized asks, and more. You’ll walk away with the understanding of why investing in your current donors is one of the most effective ways to increase your fundraising, and a free worksheet to help structure your next upgraded ask! 

So, if you have an hour to spare on June 11, join the GiveMN team to build your donor cultivation confidence and learn about stewardship strategies that work for your organization’s unique audience and mission. 

When: June 11, 2025, from 11 am to 12 pm CDT
Where: Zoom
Who: New and Volunteer Fundraisers who want to build deep donor relationships, make amazing asks, and raise more money this year.
Price: $45