Hope Smiles on You

By Erica Waasdorp

At this time of year, I like to look back over the past year. It’s certainly been very different than any other year. For every single one of us.

For me, 2020 meant minimal travel, more webinars, more screen time, more appeals, more emails, more writing and working harder than ever before. I’ve been busy and fortunate to support wonderful fundraisers like you, so I’m very grateful to you. Together, we are all trying to make a difference.

Here are my five people and things that kept me sane:

My husband. He’s one of the most positive and happy people I know. Having a simple cup of coffee in the morning, dinner or a beach walk together makes the pandemic melt away for a little while.
Reading positive stories. One of my favorite authors is Jon Gordon, and I enjoy all of his books on leadership and thinking positive thoughts. It’s so important to keep yourself motivated.
Exercise. I was fortunate my gym pivoted quickly to Zoom barre classes, and I’m still doing those several times a week.
Watching positive and inspirational movies. I’ll admit I’m an avid fan of Hallmark movies and other movies in that same style. The last thing we need right now is violence and depressing stuff. There’s enough out there already. I love losing myself in an hour and a half of fairytale.
Positive feedback and stories from nonprofits like you that share their successes, especially now. More monthly donors. Upgraded monthly donors. Extra gifts from monthly donors. So please keep that up. I can’t wait to see how the year-end results turn out for you!

So, have a wonderful holiday, take a few days off, and then go for that final year-end push.

And let me end with an Alfred Lord Tennyson quote I just read:

“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘It will be happier.’”

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Monthly Giving

Erica Waasdorp Author's page

Erica Waasdorp is one of the leading experts on monthly giving. She is the president of A Direct Solution, a company serving nonprofit organizations with fundraising and direct marketing needs, with a focus on monthly giving and appeals. She authored "Monthly Giving: The Sleeping Giant" and "Monthly Giving Made Easy." She regularly blogs and presents on fundraising, appeals and monthly giving — in person and through webinars. She is happy to answer any questions you may have about this great way of improving retention rates for your donors.

Erica has over 30 years of experience in nonprofits and direct response. She helped the nonprofits she works with raise millions of dollars through monthly giving programs. She is also very actively supports organizations with annual fund planning and execution, ranging from copywriting, creative, lists, print and mail execution.

When she’s not working or writing, Erica can be found on the golf course (she’s a straight shooter) or quietly reading a book. And if there’s an event with a live band, she and her husband, Patrick, can be found on the dance floor. She also loves watching British drama on PBS. Erica and Patrick have two step sons and a cat, Mientje.