November 2023 Vol. 1 Issue 11
YEAR END DONOR APPEAL
It’s the time of year when many if not most, not for profits roll out the annual donor appeal as their donors and supporters work on year-end financial planning. At the Community Foundation we often find ourselves in conversations with Executive Directors or a CEO of an organization about donor and funding strategies. From our perspective, funding starts with board member commitment. To assess where your board is in terms of this commitment, we encourage you to read on, ask yourself as a board member the following questions, and if you haven’t already, begin a conversation about the importance and connection of board members to successful fund raising.

Karlene Grabner
Director of Donor Services
Oshkosh Area Community Foundation
Board Notes is a publication of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation
As a board member of a not for profit, there are a few important questions to ask yourself:

1. Is your board all in with donor gifts? In other words, do you have 100% participation from the board of directors when it comes to giving donations, no matter the size? If not, why not? It can be challenging to ask for donations (at any time of the year) when not every board member is supporting the agency and its mission with a monetary donation. Conversely, it is very powerful to be able to state that an organization is supported 100% by the board in financial giving.
2. Is the year end appeal part of a bigger plan for financial sustainability and are you tying into national trends or promotions. For example, “Giving Tuesday” is becoming as important to non-profits as “Black Friday” is to retailers. Is this part of a larger strategy? Are you as a board member listening for cues from potential donors in your casual or social conversations in order for the agency to build sustaining relationships with donors or potential donors? 

3. How does each board member participate in a year-end appeal? Is there an opportunity to add a personal note? Can you provide potential donor contact information who can be added to the organization’s data base?
4. Do you advocate for your organization year-round to your sphere of influence? Some of an agency’s best donors come from a board member opening the door to a potential donor, with their advocacy and passion.

5. Does each board member understand the various ways a donor can give to an organization? It is common to think only of a gift of cash. But there are other ways to give such as an IRA rollover, appreciated stock, property, or as a beneficiary to life insurance or an estate. 

The questions above are a great place to start a robust conversation with fellow board members about the over-arching funding strategy and the critical role they play in it. The Oshkosh Area Community Foundation is available to assist not for profits with guidance and giving tools that can present a professional and comprehensive approach to fund raising which can help stabilize a donor and giving strategy. Let us know if a conversation with our Foundation development staff and your board of directors would be helpful, and let’s move forward together.
230 Ohio Street, Suite 100, Oshkosh, WI 54902-5894