It’s a Donor Acquisition and Stewardship Strategy
Every year, nonprofits across Southwest Washington prepare for Give More 24! with a simple question:
“How much money can we raise?”
It’s not a bad question.
But it might be the wrong one.
At Pacific Northwest Fundraising, we believe Give More 24! is much more than a 24-hour fundraising event.
It’s one of the most powerful donor acquisition and stewardship opportunities available to nonprofit organizations.
The donation is not the finish line.
It’s the starting line.
The Problem With Traditional Thinking
Many organizations approach Give More 24! as a single-day campaign.
They focus on dollars raised, number of gifts, leaderboard rankings, and matching gift challenges.
All of those things matter.
But when the campaign ends, many organizations move on to the next priority.
The donors they worked so hard to acquire receive a thank-you email and then disappear into a database.
That’s a missed opportunity.
Because every Give More 24! donor represents something much more valuable than a single gift.
What Is a Give More 24! Donor Worth?
A donor acquired during Give More 24! is not simply a donor.
They may become:
- A recurring donor
- A volunteer
- A board member
- A peer-to-peer fundraiser
- A major donor
- A planned giving prospect
- A corporate sponsor
- A lifelong advocate
The gift itself is important.
The relationship is priceless.
Organizations that understand this shift their focus from campaign performance to donor development.
Why Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Matters
One of the most powerful aspects of Give More 24! is peer-to-peer fundraising.
People give to people they know and trust.
Board members.
Volunteers.
Alumni.
Parents.
Community leaders.
Supporters.
When these individuals share their personal connection to an organization, they often reach donors who would never respond to a traditional fundraising appeal.
The result?
New donors.
New relationships.
New opportunities for stewardship.
The fundraising revenue is important.
The expanded donor pipeline may be even more important.
Board Members Are More Than Governance
Many nonprofit boards see Give More 24! as a staff project.
We believe boards should see it as a development opportunity.
A well-supported Board Ambassador Program can:
- Increase campaign visibility
- Expand donor reach
- Strengthen board engagement
- Build fundraising confidence
- Create long-term ownership of development efforts
Development is not the responsibility of one person.
Development is a team sport.
No Database, No Donor Development
One of our core beliefs at Pacific Northwest Fundraising is simple:
“No database, no donor development.”
The true value of Give More 24! is not what happens on campaign day.
The true value is what happens afterward.
Can you identify first-time donors?
Can you segment supporters?
Can you steward relationships?
Can you convert one-time donors into recurring supporters?
Can you build meaningful engagement over time?
Without systems, the answer is often no.
And without stewardship, donor acquisition becomes far less valuable.
The Most Successful Campaigns Start Early
The strongest Give More 24! campaigns begin months before September.
Not because organizations need more time to ask for donations.
Because they need more time to build relationships.
Early planning creates time to:
- Secure matching gifts
- Recruit peer-to-peer fundraisers
- Activate board members
- Engage ambassadors
- Develop donor communications
- Build campaign momentum
The organizations that see the greatest long-term benefit understand that Give More 24! is not about one day.
It’s about creating a fundraising engine that continues working long after campaign day ends.
A Different Way to Measure Success
Instead of asking:
“How much money did we raise?”
Consider asking:
- How many new donors did we acquire?
- How many donors can we steward?
- How many board members participated?
- How many ambassadors shared our mission?
- How many recurring donors did we create?
- How many relationships did we strengthen?
Those are the metrics that drive sustainable fundraising growth.
The Donation Is The Transaction. Stewardship Is The Relationship.
Too often, organizations celebrate the gift and forget the giver.
A Give More 24! donor is raising their hand and saying:
“I care about your mission.”
What happens next determines whether they become a one-time donor or a lifelong supporter.
The donation is simply the beginning of the conversation.
The real work—and the real opportunity—is stewardship.
That’s where sustainable fundraising growth comes from.
Final Thought
Give More 24! is not a fundraising event.
It’s a donor acquisition event.
It’s a stewardship event.
It’s a board engagement event.
It’s a storytelling event.
It’s a community-building event.
The nonprofits that understand this distinction don’t just raise more money.
They build stronger fundraising systems.
And stronger fundraising systems create stronger nonprofits.
Because at the end of the day:
Development Is A Team Sport.
Let’s Talk
If your organization is thinking about Give More 24! this year, I’d love to have a conversation.
Whether you need a full campaign partner, help activating your board, support building a peer-to-peer fundraising strategy, or simply want to brainstorm ideas, I’m happy to help.
📅 Schedule a Conversation: https://meetings.hubspot.com/eddie94
Email us directly: [email protected]