For nonprofit fundraisers, the final months of the year can feel like a race to the finish. Appeals are going out. GivingTuesday is approaching. Donor outreach ramps up. Gifts need to be processed and acknowledged.
And somewhere on the list? Holiday stewardship.
It’s easy for donor cards and greetings to become one more thing to squeeze in, but year-end is also an important time to make sure donors hear something from your organization that
isn’t another ask.
A thoughtful holiday greeting creates a moment to simply say: We remember you. We appreciate you. Your support matters.
That’s why September and early fall are not too early to start planning. Coordinating holiday stewardship now allows your organization to be intentional about the donor experience. And keeps it from becoming another project competing for your team’s attention in November and December.
Holiday stewardship is also an opportunity to think strategically about who should receive what kind of personal touch.
For a broad audience of annual donors, members, or volunteers, a warm, personalized card can be an effective way to express gratitude and reinforce their connection to your mission.
For mid-level, major, leadership, or other highly-engaged donors, consider adding another level of personalization. A card personally signed by your CEO, development officer, board member, or another organizational leader can create a meaningful touchpoint during a season filled with solicitations.
You don’t have to choose one approach for your entire donor file. A tiered strategy allows you to match the stewardship experience to the donor relationship. It also allows you to focus your team’s personal attention where it can have the greatest impact.
The challenge with holiday cards often isn’t the idea. It’s everything required to make them happen, especially during an already busy season.
There’s the message and design. The donor list. Personalization. Signatures. Printing. Addressing. Postage. Mailing. And, of course, making sure everything gets out the door on time.
Those are exactly the kinds of details Streamworks can take off your team’s plate.
Our Year-End Stewardship Packages provide two ways to approach holiday greetings depending on your needs.
Streamworks can manage the process from printing through personalization and mailing, including options for realistic handwritten signatures. Or, if you want organizational leaders to personally sign cards, we can prepare and personalize them for your team so they arrive ready for that final personal touch.
You can also choose from four professionally-designed holiday cards or work with our team to create a custom design that reflects your organization.
The goal isn’t to take the personal element out of stewardship. It’s to take the production work out of it.
That leaves your fundraising team with more time for donor conversations, year-end appeals, and all the other work that requires their attention during the busy fundraising season.
Your team will have plenty to manage between now and December 31. Holiday stewardship doesn’t have to become another last-minute project.
Start planning now, and you can create a thoughtful donor touchpoint while checking one more thing off your year-end list before the busiest part of the season even begins.
Streamworks holiday card orders are due October 15.
Explore our Year End Stewardship Packages or contact Streamworks to get started.