Annual Campaigns

Giving Tuesday Raised $117M for Charities, Early Figures Show
December 3, 2015 at 9:48 am

Giving Tuesday, a charitable initiative that uses social media as its catalyst, raised nearly $117 million in online donations, a jump of 155 percent over last year, according to preliminary calculations exclusively provided to Reuters by the event's organizers. In the 24 hours starting at midnight Eastern time on Tuesday, U.S. charities reported receiving 1.08 million…

With Outpouring, Nonprofit Reaches Goal of Wreaths for Arlington Cemetery
December 3, 2015 at 9:43 am

One day after Wreaths Across America told WTOP it still needed 8,000 wreaths to be able to afford putting one on each headstone at Arlington National Cemetery, the nonprofit has reached its goal. “We are very humbled by the response from so many and in such a short amount of time,” said organization chairman Wayne…

Nevada Wal-Mart Stores Pull Toys for Tots Donation Boxes
December 2, 2015 at 10:29 am

The Marine Corps League, organizing the annual "Toys for Tots" toy drive for families in need in the Reno/Sparks area, said local Wal-Mart stores have removed donation boxes from area locations. The group said it had donation boxes set up at area Wal-Mart locations, but has now learned that Wal-Mart has removed those boxes. A…

Infographic: #GivingTuesday in the Minds of Millennials
November 30, 2015 at 11:59 am

#GivingTuesday is almost here. You’ve spent countless hours planning your campaigns, crafting the perfect emails, prepping your donation pages, fashioning the perfect tweets (the day does have its own hashtag, after all). So, will it serve as a way to get those wily, social media-savvy millennials involved in philanthropy?...

Anonymous Donors Slip Big Money Into Salvation Army Kettle
November 30, 2015 at 11:48 am

A check made out for $500,000 was dropped in a Salvation Army kettle over the weekend in Rosemount, Minn., a startling act of generosity that a couple said was their way of saying thank you. The Salvation Army said the donation made Saturday at the Cub Foods on County Road 42, just east of Shannon…

Georgia Sets New Record for Day of Generosity
November 17, 2015 at 9:58 am

Every November since 2012, a day has been set aside for "Georgia Gives Day" to demonstrate what we already know Georgians are good at anyway: generosity. This year's Georgia Gives Day was last Thursday, and it exceeded not just all previous campaigns, but all except the most extravagant expectations. The fourth annual Georgia Gives Day…

Year-End Fundraising: Where to Invest Your Time
November 5, 2015 at 10:11 am

We now are faced with the last eight weeks of the year, the time when we are “make or break” for our fundraising year. Even if our fiscal year ends at another time, the calendar year-end drives a lot of donations. The following are some ways to that can help you focus your fundraising efforts these last eight weeks of 2015...

For Giving Tuesday Success, Emulate Black Friday
November 4, 2015 at 10:24 am

As nonprofits gear up to promote Giving Tuesday—the post-Thanksgiving fundraising day—they usually highlight it as a counterpoint to the consumerism of the Black Friday shopping extravaganza. But that doesn’t mean it’s smart to ignore all the lessons that successful retailers have learned after years of promoting holiday sales. Among them: A sense of urgency is…

THON Cancels Last Canning Trip, Cites Safety and Forced-Fundraising Concerns
November 4, 2015 at 10:16 am

In a decision that will affect fundraising efforts for THON 2016, the Penn State Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon has canceled the third canning weekend of the season. One of the two main reasons for the cancellation is the inability to ensure volunteer travel safety. The second reason is “forced fundraising,” a term coming from a…

Year-End Giving 2016
October 29, 2015 at 10:12 am

Cash gifts at calendar year-end are literally the life-blood of many a nonprofit. Nonprofits often receive north of 40 percent of their annual cash during the last 30 to 60 days of the calendar year. Certainly nothing to treat casually. And yet, that‘s something that some organizations do. As with any appeal, it’s important to know what your objectives are...