Be Done With Your Annual Fund In Only 4 Weeks-Be Done With Your Annual Fund In Only 4 Weeks

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, Meade Davis and Jill Gaunt of Randolph School in Huntsville, Alabama, discuss their successful annual fundraising campaign. They begin by introducing themselves and their roles at the school. They explain that their campaign was condensed from a year-long effort to a four-week campaign. They describe the challenges they faced with their previous campaigns, including lack of enthusiasm and exhaustion. They credit their director of development and director of annual giving for spearheading the transition to a shorter campaign.<br /><br />They outline the various strategies they employed during their four-week campaign, such as sending invitations, establishing volunteer teams for peer-to-peer solicitation, and using social media and emails. They emphasize the importance of building relationships with donors and supporters, as well as the significance of stewardship.<br /><br />They discuss their goals for the campaign, including increasing parent participation to 70%. They also mention the impact of COVID-19 and the adjustments they made to their campaign due to the pandemic. They explain how they used humor to engage their community and create a sense of normalcy during uncertain times. They describe the success they achieved, with parent participation exceeding their goals and securing significant funds for special projects.<br /><br />They conclude by encouraging other organizations to take risks, be creative, and focus on stewardship. They emphasize the importance of enjoying the fundraising process and fostering strong relationships with donors. They highlight the benefits of shortening campaigns and adapting to unexpected circumstances.

Keywords

annual fundraising campaign

Randolph School

parent participation

peer-to-peer solicitation

donor stewardship

social media outreach

COVID-19 fundraising

campaign strategy