Today is President’s Day in the USA. So I got to thinking: how could a nonprofit use this holiday for fundraising?
Here are two ideas I came up with:
(1) President’s Day Mailing
Send a mailing to your database listing all the past presidents — however they’re called at your organization (board chairs, executive directors, CEOs).
Give donors the option of making a donation in honor or memory of those people. Keep it brief but use it to celebrate the past.
(2) Stewardship/Thank You Gathering
Or you could invite all those people to a cocktail party in their honor. This might not be a great “asking” event, but it’s a wonderful way to remind them that your organization remembers them. It’s also a great way to
- involve people that knew these men and women
- strengthen relationships with the spouses of the “presidents”
- and you can glean lots of great stories from these past leaders!
Two quick ideas you might put on your calendar for next year.
We’re doing a public radio pledge drive and telling people to take part in public media democracy–“vote” for your public radio! Considering the current issues with Congress voting to eliminate funding for public broadcasting, it seemed like an appropriate theme. Great ideas, Marc!
Alice, I love it!!! Great idea!!
My suggestion: “On this Presidents’ Day, why not donate a few dead ones?” 🙂
On Presidents day, thank Woodrow Wilson for signing the 1917 Income Tax Act, which allowed for deductions for charitable contributions. 🙂
Those are hilarious, Peter! Thanks for posting them! 🙂