Soapbox Engage Blog

2016 was a high watermark for donations to nonprofits with a massive flood of dollars given in the final weeks of the year. This torrent of generosity was attributed to a number of expected factors: an economy continuing its recovery, the natural spike in donations at the end of the year, and a strong #GivingTuesday response. What was not widely expected was the outcome of the presidential election and the many in the body politic who chose to reach for their wallets to voice their protest of the incoming administration of President Donald Trump.

Since then, the national narrative has been driven forward in fits and starts by an anything but ordinary news cycle. With it comes a trove of headlines echoing many of the motivations folks had in reaching for their wallets in November and December. And, while recent history stresses how difficult the future is to predict, it is a safe bet these headlines will continue through the balance of the year. What’s more, for many of these donors, evidence of a positive effect from post-election gifts will be lacking on the national stage as we arrive at an end-of-year giving season that will not yet mark a full year into the Trump administration.

Donor fatigue will be inevitable. Many will question whether it is worth giving to many causes they care about. Your job is to prove that it is, and to do so through story. You must demonstrate your impact, with true and evocative evidence, to show that the national narrative is not the only narrative. You must make it compelling enough that supporters are excited to share it around the Thanksgiving table this holiday. If it isn’t, you’re not there yet. Keep at it.

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Tell your story. Make it a good one, true and telling and expressing your mission in clear, clarion-call terms. Because there will be a lot of folks feeling tired come November and many could use a rousing, true tale to inspire action.

Want some inspiration of your own for crafting that story? Join us for road-tested strategies for #GivingTuesday success along with a dose of Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack tactics to support them. Watch our free webinar, Seize #GivingTuesday Success with Fundraising Wisdom and Salesforce.