Twas the Night Before Christmas, and all through the House,

Grownups were surfing and clicking their mouse.

The kids were asleep and the stockings were loaded,

With ipods and Wiis and things sugar

And now it was time to think of some others,

The poor, disenfranchised, sons, daughters and mothers.

Worthy cause emails came in by the scores,

Making the case for donations and more.

Which one to choose, and what to do

Join, donate, or give—oh how much and when?

But the sites were a mess and the

The wanna-be donors’ nerves came a

It was too much confusion and they were so tired,

You’d think it would be easier to make charity wired.

Donate tomorrow, they said to themself,

Was enough work today to be Santa’s elf.

And so off to bed, the causes can wait,

If it had only been easier to give or donate.

Contributed by seechanges.org

T I C T O C K : F I V E

P r o f e s s i o n a l F u n d r a i s i n g

I d e a s F o r Y e a r - E n d

P r o c r a s t i n a t o r s

was the Night Before Christmas, and all through the House,

Grownups were surfing and clicking their mouse.

The kids were asleep and the stockings were loaded,

and Wiis and things sugar-coated.

And now it was time to think of some others,

The poor, disenfranchised, sons, daughters and mothers.

Worthy cause emails came in by the scores,

Making the case for donations and more.

Which one to choose, and what to do then,

oh how much and when?

But the sites were a mess and the forms were a tangle,

be donors’ nerves came a-jangle.

It was too much confusion and they were so tired,

You’d think it would be easier to make charity wired.

ate tomorrow, they said to themself,

Was enough work today to be Santa’s elf.

And so off to bed, the causes can wait,

If it had only been easier to give or donate.

OOOOur days are numbered. December

upon us. How can it be? Weren't the kids in

Halloween costumes last week? For crying

out loud, their candy remains in a pillow

case tucked in their room. And didn't I just

F u n d r a i s i n g

E n d

December 31st is

upon us. How can it be? Weren't the kids in

Halloween costumes last week? For crying

out loud, their candy remains in a pillow

case tucked in their room. And didn't I just

prepare a tender Turkey? How did this happen? What am I to do.

Fundraising Consultants, December is s

December; of those December donations

There's still time. This Fundraising Consultant

1) On-line Giving: The growth in

December, when online giving’s advantages of convenience and immediacy are crucial.

Use this to your advantage.

email blast using Constant Contact, they offer a free trial period and

nonprofit clients, it is super simple to navigate and BLAST. If you're having trouble, their

support team is ACES.

Fundraising experts will tell you that a

about 1 percent of your list. If you send an email to 1,000 people, expect about 10 of

them to donate. However, online donors typically give slightly larger a

other donors.

2) Mailings: Send out an appeal between the 26th and the 31st

December. The last week in the year is always hectic which means

your message should be short and simple; reminding people how

easy it is to make their year

the month, in the nick-of-time for their tax deduction.

Our fundraising consulting groups

sent on December 30th with a simple call to action

3) Think through your story and strategy

pitches with pictures are more successful. Include e

letters for those you've helped.

A well

stay away from stock images and most definitely do not use

negative imagery, like starving children

proven to make people "click" away from your page.

4)

that g

ditch you

email blast or direct mail piece, then make darn sure once they

arrive you have ONE or more LARGE "donate n

your landing page

donate.

Turkey? How did this happen? What am I to do. According to Professional

December is so important, over 45% of annual giving comes in

donations, nearly half arrive during the last 6 days

Fundraising Consultant urges you to get moving NOW, here's how.

The growth in online giving is especially notable the last week of

December, when online giving’s advantages of convenience and immediacy are crucial.

Use this to your advantage. If you have a list of supporters’ email addresses, get out an

email blast using Constant Contact, they offer a free trial period and according to my

it is super simple to navigate and BLAST. If you're having trouble, their

will tell you that as a rule of thumb you can expect a donation from

percent of your list. If you send an email to 1,000 people, expect about 10 of

However, online donors typically give slightly larger average gifts than

appeal between the 26th and the 31st of

. The last week in the year is always hectic which means

your message should be short and simple; reminding people how

easy it is to make their year-end gift online in the last few days of

time for their tax deduction.

fundraising consulting groups most successful mailings were

sent on December 30th with a simple call to action, “Still Time to Donate in 2010

through your story and strategy: As with all fund raising techniques, compelling

with pictures are more successful. Include examples of past projects letters for those you've helped.

well-chosen image provides a taste of inspiration. By all means,

stay away from stock images and most definitely do not use

negative imagery, like starving children. Sad images, valid or not, are

proven to make people "click" away from your page.

Limit Donor Options: Wagner Fundraising Group

that giving people too many options stresses them out

ditch you. If you are driving donors to your website to give via your

email blast or direct mail piece, then make darn sure once they

arrive you have ONE or more LARGE "donate now" button

your landing page rather than a full range of navigation options to

Professional

comes in

e last 6 days of the month.

get moving NOW, here's how.

the last week of

December, when online giving’s advantages of convenience and immediacy are crucial.

If you have a list of supporters’ email addresses, get out an

according to my

it is super simple to navigate and BLAST. If you're having trouble, their

s a rule of thumb you can expect a donation from

percent of your list. If you send an email to 1,000 people, expect about 10 of

verage gifts than

, “Still Time to Donate in 2010!”

As with all fund raising techniques, compelling

xamples of past projects and thank you

on. By all means,

stay away from stock images and most definitely do not use

. Sad images, valid or not, are

proven to make people "click" away from your page.

Wagner Fundraising Group determined

esses them out and they will

. If you are driving donors to your website to give via your

email blast or direct mail piece, then make darn sure once they

ow" button(s) on

ll range of navigation options to

ONLY during this time of year will this

choices to give monthly, join, donate, renew, check out planned giving optio

During these last few weeks of December provide a single donation

jumps off the landing page and keep those donors on task ... MAKE YOUR YEAR END GIFT

BY DECEMBER 31, 2010.

5) Thank Your Donor Three Times

getting anything in return except warm and fuzzy's.

Use the finish page as your first opportunity of thanks.

is that screen that comes up once the donation process is complete.

Include and image which also conveys your gratitude

Send another thank you

donors a tax receipt

goodwill. Finally, if the gift is large

thanks. If there is no phone number, send

Avoid Procrastinating Next Year. Block off time now for

the month of January to develop a detailed and

strategic Development Calendar laying out all deadlines

and milestones in order to reach those deadlines. DO

NOT forget to indicate who is accountable to meeting

those deadlines.

If you have any questions on how to raise money during

this holiday crunch, please contact Marcie Wagner at

http://www.wagnerfundraising.com/contactus.html

to you in the New Year.

Marcie L. Wagner, fundraising consultant

Fundraising Group. We are a boutique,

experience in professional fundraising, grant research, grant writing, and communications,

Marcie is an expert in raising money with little expense attached; as it should be.

Her favorite success stories are those attached to working with sm

with passionate leadership, a unique mission, poised for greatness

push in the right direction. Ms. Wagner is considered by many to be an expert in the area of

annual giving, online fundraising, grant

particularly with organizations who are just beginning to form strategic development and

communication efforts. Her no-nonsense approach in branding an organization to enhance its

ONLY during this time of year will this fundraisings consultant tell you to e

monthly, join, donate, renew, check out planned giving optio

During these last few weeks of December provide a single donation choice

jumps off the landing page and keep those donors on task ... MAKE YOUR YEAR END GIFT

Three Times: Giving is a very intimate and personal process, they are not

getting anything in return except warm and fuzzy's.

Use the finish page as your first opportunity of thanks.

is that screen that comes up once the donation process is complete.

Include and image which also conveys your gratitude.

Send another thank you via email a few days later. In January send

donors a tax receipt - your third and final gesture of thanks and

goodwill. Finally, if the gift is large - $500 or more, make a phon

thanks. If there is no phone number, send a hand signed letter.

Next Year. Block off time now for

the month of January to develop a detailed and

strategic Development Calendar laying out all deadlines

and milestones in order to reach those deadlines. DO

NOT forget to indicate who is accountable to meeting

If you have any questions on how to raise money during

this holiday crunch, please contact Marcie Wagner at

http://www.wagnerfundraising.com/contactus.html. Happy Holidays and our very best wishes

, fundraising consultant, is the founder and principal of ML Wagner

. We are a boutique, fundraising consulting firm. With two decades of

experience in professional fundraising, grant research, grant writing, and communications,

Marcie is an expert in raising money with little expense attached; as it should be.

Her favorite success stories are those attached to working with smaller organizations. Groups

with passionate leadership, a unique mission, poised for greatness - all they need is a gentle

push in the right direction. Ms. Wagner is considered by many to be an expert in the area of

annual giving, online fundraising, grant research and writing, and branded communications;

particularly with organizations who are just beginning to form strategic development and

nonsense approach in branding an organization to enhance its

tell you to eliminate

monthly, join, donate, renew, check out planned giving options, etc.

choice that literally

jumps off the landing page and keep those donors on task ... MAKE YOUR YEAR END GIFT

Giving is a very intimate and personal process, they are not

Use the finish page as your first opportunity of thanks. The finish page

is that screen that comes up once the donation process is complete.

In January send

your third and final gesture of thanks and

$500 or more, make a phone call of

. Happy Holidays and our very best wishes

ML Wagner

two decades of

experience in professional fundraising, grant research, grant writing, and communications,

Marcie is an expert in raising money with little expense attached; as it should be.

aller organizations. Groups

all they need is a gentle

push in the right direction. Ms. Wagner is considered by many to be an expert in the area of

research and writing, and branded communications;

particularly with organizations who are just beginning to form strategic development and

nonsense approach in branding an organization to enhance its

development efforts gave many organizations the tools to launch successful grant and major

giving campaigns.

Contact Marcie L. Wagner at http://www.wagnerfundraising.com/contactus.html and sign up

for a free consultation and a one month free subscription to Marcie Wagner's Grant Alerts. To

learn more about Marcie Wagner, fundraising consultant, visit her at

http://www.wagnerfundraising.com/aboutus.html.