A current TCG campaign client, the Methow Conservancy, put a big challenge out to its community this summer. It wasn’t the typical fundraising challenge, where raising a certain dollar amount would unlock a challenge award. This was the Every Donor Counts Challenge.

The Methow Conservancy’s Imagine the Methow Campaign received a $100,000 challenge from a small group of donors which would be received if they could raise about 600 gifts in just six weeks – bringing their total campaign gifts to 1,000 in number by the end of summer.  

What seemed wildly ambitious at first became an amazing campaign success. By the deadline, the campaign had reached a total of 1,322 gifts!

How did they do it? Through a multi-faceted plan that included events, direct mail, a volunteer-led “viral” campaign, a visible donor recognition piece, donation boxes in local businesses, as well as ads with the local newspaper and radio station. It was a lot to manage, but the pay off is nothing short of inspiring!

Community members recognized that their gift at any level would help to advance the campaign, and donors felt a sense of community pride in meeting the challenge.

The Methow Conservancy’s Imagine the Methow Campaign is raising funds to help protect critical Methow Valley land by working with willing private landowners.  For more information, visit their website at www.imaginethemethow.org .

Filed under: Campaigns by Natalie Lamberjack on October 13, 2009