An Open Letter to Every Donor Everywhere
Dear Donor,
It’s that time of year. Yes, the time of year where walking out and opening the mailbox affords you a real chance of opening a real card! Christmas and holiday cards are being sent and received. This is the time of year where merriment and cheer abounds.
But most of all, this time of year we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We celebrate the wonder, mystery and fulfillment of hundreds of years of prophecy being fulfilled after hundreds of years of God’s people waiting for their Savior. It is a wondrous time of year to be quiet and reflect on the beauty of it all as a Jesus follower.
His birth and life on Earth is truly one of the greatest gifts God could have given us. In His grand and lavish generosity, God lived His character out before us so that we might truly know Him.
It is in the spirit of great generosity, we reach out to you today. We know as a donor, you’re probably receiving all the end of year letters from your favorite nonprofits, ones you’ve supported in the past, and maybe some organizations you don’t support but magically got added to their mailing list! Does it feel overwhelming?
That’s a rhetorical question.. we know it does.
Being asked for more while you’re already doing all the things, juggling the Christmas shopping and trying your best to focus your heart on why we celebrate Christmas. We get it. We are working parents, homeschooling our two boys and juggling all the things just like you.
So we want to take a moment to be as frank and transparent as to why you keep getting these letters every December, year after year.
Does an end-of-year gift really make that much of a difference? Or are organizations just trying to get a little more to pad the budget for January?
The answer is… yes, your year end gift makes a real difference and no, organizations are not just trying to pad budgets!
It’s estimated that 30 percent of annual giving for a nonprofit happens in December. We’re not just hoping for more giving and generosity from our wonderful partners. We truly rely on it. How our nonprofits exist and engage effectively in our missions directly rely on the giving received in December.
Ten percent of all annual donations come in during the final three days of the year. Would it be nice to understand a budget and forecast next year’s planning ahead of time? It sure would. But are we grateful for last minute gifts? Absolutely!
When we reach out, we do so in unity and the same oneness of our God who made us generous like Him. We know you share a heart and a passion for changing lives in the same way we do. And we want you to be part of that!
When we reach out, we’re doing so with the understanding and knowing, based on years past, that maybe you’ve meant to make a gift. But life got busy, and you need a reminder.
We rely on God first and foremost to fulfill our missions. But knowing the realities of December giving for so many, we know He uses this month to spur on His mission.
Our hope is that when you receive that end of year letter this year from your favorite nonprofits, maybe you’d take a moment to pray and consider whether you can make a year end gift. It might be a large gift, but maybe it’s not. Maybe it’s one given with a cheerful heart and a whole lot of prayer that God would multiply your faithful gift.
We work with a wide range of nonprofits that seek justice, provide for the poor, spread the gospel of Hope. And on behalf of organizations, everywhere, we are so thankful for your generosity and giving all year! We are especially grateful for your December gifts that truly give a stable financial footing to our missions and the work on the ground.
May God bless you with His peace and joy this Christmas. May you know His ever-flowing generosity toward you always!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Josh and Kaitlin Saenz
Compel You