Raising the Barr

25/12/2021

Memories are created through your senses… this holiday, we are filling our home with the smells of the seasons.

Orange
Cranberries
Cinnamon
Cloves

May your holidays be filled with old traditions & new memories.

09/12/2021

If you're having a holiday party this year or just family over, a pitcher of this mistletoe kiss cocktail is sure to be a hit. And while we are on the subject of parties, let's talk about some appetizers that will pair well together.

I'm a sucker for a nice charcuterie board... or baked brie, all melted & gooey... it doesn't have to be fancy but if you want to go in that direction my girl Phamily Eats creates some delectable masterpieces.

Mistletoe Kiss
♥️ 6 oz vodka (I use Highbanks vodka local to Cbus)
♥️ 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
♥️ 2 oz rosemary simple syrup (I make my own)
♥️ Club soda
♥️ Frozen Cranberries
♥️ Sprig of Rosemary

07/12/2021

What is the most meaningful gift you've ever received?
Last year... in an unpredictable year we as a family chose to gift donations and it was pretty magical.

🌟It shows thoughtfulness by choosing a mission we love
🌟It's a sustainable gift for those out of town or overseas
🌟It supports a great cause

So instead of fighting crowds and paying crazy shipping costs, consider donating to your loved one's favorite cause. List some charities close to your heart in the comments! I'll start: 934 Gallery, Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks, and BraveMen Inc.!

30/11/2021

There is more than one way to give back! Whether it be a financial contribution or picking up trash in your neighborhood, we all can make a difference!

Still not sure how you're going to give on ? Here are 10 more ideas for ways you can give where you live.

GivingTuesday is this TUESDAY! Set yourself a calendar reminder using the link in our bio.

30/11/2021

Congratulations BraveMen Inc. for receiving 501c3 status!

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States. More than 33,000 men will die of prostate cancer this year, which means that every 16 minutes an American man dies from prostate cancer.

BraveMen, Inc. is a nonprofit that gets men comfortable with talking about their health. BraveMen Inc is dedicated to raising awareness about prostate cancer and detection - along with supporting men & their families through the cancer journey from diagnosis to recovery.

29/11/2021

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday! What is Giving Tuesday?

It's the national day of giving. It encourages people to give back in any way they can. Think about ways you can give back to your community.

Can you give the gift of time? Most non-profits rely heavily on volunteers and hands-on support. Could you give an hour a month to a cause close to your heart?

Do you hold a special talent? Are you organized and love hosting events? Do you have a skill set that could work within a board setting?

Of course, there is the gift of a monetary contribution to a mission you hold dear.

There are many ways of giving back to your community through supporting a non-profit. It's not about the dollar amount as much as it is the feeling you get when you give.

20/11/2021

We are delivering 20 Brave Boxes to men fighting prostate cancer!

To date, we have delivered over 40. We are so excited to help BraveMen, Inc. scale to provide an additional level of support for men and their families during their recovery process.

19/11/2021

This is something a lot of us overthink. Too often we are focused on getting new donors that we forget it's more cost effective to keep our current donors on board and happy! Here are a few things

✨Send a personalized thank you card

✨Make sure they're on your e-mail list so they get the most up to date information!

✨Pick up the phone and give them a quick call!

✨Text them or give them some love on social media to let them know they're on your mind!

✨Send a small gift

✨Invite them to an event

✨Know important dates in their lives (birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, etc.)

We should be touching base with our donors at least every 90 days! This keeps them happy and encouraged to stay involved in your organization. Drop in the comments your favorite way to steward your donors!

17/11/2021

Here are my top strategies to increase donor retention!

1. Make the donor experiences fun and unforgettable (this is my personal favorite)

2. Thank donors within 7 days of their gift with a phone call or handwritten letter

3. Show donors how they are the heroes of the organization

4. Report on outcomes

How many of these are you consistently doing in your organization? Bonus points if you're doing more!

16/11/2021

Stop planning your fundraisers with the same cookie-cutter strategies that worked pre-pandemic. It's time to get creative! If you have questions on how to create one-of-a-kind mission-centric experiences, message me..... I'd love to chat with you.

15/11/2021

Today is National Philanthropy Day!

The purpose of this day is to recognize the great contributions of philanthropy and those active in the philanthropic community. Thank you for making an impact by using your time, talent, and tithe. Changing the world into a greater place.

BraveMen Inc. The Avalon Theatre

11/11/2021

Knowing Your Donor Metrics: Donor Lifetime Value

Donor Lifetime Value (LTV) is the average measure of how much your donors will contribute to your nonprofit organization, starting with their first donation and lasting until the moment they stop giving.

This number can give you an idea of the fundraising revenue you can expect to collect long term, as well as the value of contributions you may expect to receive from similar donors in the future.

11/11/2021

Knowing Your Donor Metrics: Gift Retention

Gift Retention is the amount donated by returning donors from one year to the next.

To calculate your gift retention, divide the total donated by retained donors by the total raised during the previous year. For example, it you had 100 donors give $10,000 in 2014 and 50 of them returned in 2015 to give $5,000, your gift retention rate would be 50% ($5,000 / $10,000).

09/11/2021

Knowing Your Donor Metrics: Donor Attrition Rate

Donor Attrition Rate is the opposite of Donor Retention Rate. In fundraising terms, the attrition rate is your organization's percentage of donors who stop giving from one time period to another.

Calculate your donor attrition rate by:
Subtracting number of donors 'This Year' from 'Last Year' to get the 'Number Lost'. (This is the number of donors that you lost.)
Take the 'Number Lost', divide by 'Last Year', and multiply by 100 to get the attrition rate percentage.

Your attrition rate gives you the percentage of donors that made a gift last year and did not make a gift this year.

Since the average retention rate for nonprofits is about 45%, we want to keep your attrition rate at or below 55%.

08/11/2021

Knowing Your Donor Metrics: Donor Retention Rate

The average donor retention rate is hovering around 40-45% across the nonprofit sector. This means that if 100 donors give to your organization in a given year, then only about 40 of those donors will give again the following year.

To calculate your donor retention rate, use this formula:
( # of donors this Year / # of donors last year) * 100 = Retention Rate

02/11/2021

GUESS WHAT!

We just ran the numbers and Raising the Barr raised a total of $72,947 for ONE nonprofit in the month of October! It brings me so much joy to design unforgettable fundraising experiences for both the nonprofit and their donors. These events are key to helping your donors stay connected to the mission. They're reminded of why their contribution is important and they link this fun and meaningful fundraising experience to your organization. It's what keeps them coming back!

24/10/2021

Do you know your Donor Retention Metrics?

Dedicating time to knowing and understanding your Donor Retention and how to increase it allows you to spend less time and money converting new donors year after year.

If you need support find your donor retention rate, donor attrition rate, gift retention, or donor lifetime value, DonorPerfect has an e-book that'll walk you step by step!

https://uploads.donorperfect.com/pdf/Monthly-Donor-Metrics-ebook.pdf

23/10/2021

Let's build some doors!

19/10/2021

I can not wait to book .do.brasil for your fundraiser! What entertaining artists.

18/10/2021

I still can't get over how much fun Saturday night was, my face still hurts from smiling! All our dancers have been preparing for that night for months and I am so proud of each of their performances. Collectively they helped raise over $50,000!

Your fundraiser is not over until you follow up. So much sacrifice and hard work went into making the event happen, we are so excited to slow down and relax a bit after. What you do after your fundraising event is just as important as what you do planning it!

1. Say thank you! Get your thank you cards out as soon as you can and make a phone call to those donors who helped make your event happen.

2. Ask for feedback from donors, volunteers, and supporters - This can be done in the form of a survey e-mailed out the day after the event or a survey they can fill out at the event.

3. Share results of the fundraiser on social media, your website, and with your team to help your future events be that much more successful.

17/10/2021

Such a moving performance from Christopher Dillon & Kacie Patterson!

16/10/2021

Introducing our dancers tonight and leading us with The Greatest Showman to start the event!

16/10/2021

Kerry Washington is my fashion idol! She's my inspiration for the fundraiser I'm hosting this evening. What do you think?

15/10/2021

So excited for 2022 and new opportunities for the Columbus Arts Festival!

15/10/2021

We can always do more. Drop in the comments your favorite way to thank your donors!

1. Send a handwritten letter
2. Make the phone call
3. Organize an office tour
4. Highlight donors on social media and website
5. Send small gifts
6. Send a welcome package
7. Send birthday/anniversary cards
8. Send a "thank you" video
9. Meet the team
10. Ask for input
11. Invite them to programming
12. Donor appreciation wall
13. Host a donor appreciation event
14. Give them inside access to special events
15. Annual donor awards

Donors love it when you show appreciation for their support. To ensure a long-lasting relationship, remember to thank them for all they do by utilizing these effective and engaging donor appreciation strategies.

14/10/2021

What does stewardship mean to you?

08/10/2021

If you're local to Columbus, Ohio and need something to do this weekend, 934 Gallery is a MUST SEE!

With over 2,700 square feet of exhibition space in the Milo Arts District, the gallery focuses on bringing a fresh perspective to contemporary art through exciting and thought-provoking exhibitions.

07/10/2021

Here's your secret weapon for donor retention!

https://bloomerang.co/blog/actually-calling-donors-to-thank-them-does-make-them-more-likely-to-give-again-and-give-more/

In today's digital-dominated world, personal touches like handwritten notes and phone calls can break through the noise. Though mostly anecdotal, top fundraisers and consultants have espoused the power of such personal touches, particularly the use of the phone. We even have some data to back it up:...

06/10/2021

Involving your team, volunteers, and board members in your thank you process directly affects your fundraising bottom line. They want to help, all we need to do is show them how by giving them the materials they need to be successful.

👉 Share a script or template for writing thank you cards or making thank you phone calls
👉 Make it a habit to set aside time at each board meeting dedicated to thanking donors
👉 Brainstorm as a board to find new ways to make sure EVERY donor know their gift matters

Donors genuinely like to know what's happening within your organization and how their gift has helped. Once your team starts thanking people, they'll see how much joy people receive from giving, and the more likely they'll become involved in other areas of fundraising.

04/10/2021

"Flattery is like chewing gum. Enjoy it but don't swallow it."
- Hank Ketcham