Check here for fundraising tools - templates and samples - to help you get the most out of your fundraising efforts without demanding too much of your time, energy, and attention.
If there is a fundraising resource that would be helpful to you, please send feedback and suggestions to jcamp180@hgf.org.
Year-end 2025
4 Simple Emails to Send at Year-End
This blog post features a short video explaining how year-end emails can help you tap into the year-end giving habits of many fans of camp.
We’ve added to the video’s advice to also take advantage of the lull in communications (for Jewish organizations and their audiences) during the Christmas holiday.
The result? 4 simple emails Jewish camps can send from Christmas to year-end to raise more money.
Sample Language Re: 2026 U.S. Tax Changes to Share With Your Donors
We’ve always stressed that tax incentives are not the primary reason a donor will give to your camp. They’ll give because of their connection and passion for camp and the impact they can make for a mission they care about - and because you ask!
But one takeaway from this article about upcoming U.S. tax law changes: you can use these changes as a touchpoint with donors. Please be sure to encourage your donors to check with their financial professionals about the tax benefits of their giving. Here are 4 samples you can adapt to ensure your donors are aware of the potential tax benefits of giving to camp by December 31.
Sample wording to share with donors
As we approach the end of the year, we wanted to share that the tax rules for charitable giving are changing next year. If you’re thinking about a gift to camp (or an additional gift to camp), doing it by December 31 can help make camp great for the coming summer and let you take advantage of this year’s better tax treatment.
Sample language to share with donors who have already given this year
Thanks a bunch for your generosity! Many donors are choosing to bunch gifts this year to make the most of tax benefits before tax law changes in 2026.
Sample wording for your “ways to give” and donation pages
We recommend you highlight the IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) option in your camp’s “ways to give” and donate pages at year-end AND add a callout in appeals like:
Are you 70½ or older? Give directly from your IRA to maximize your impact and minimize your taxes.
Video about tax-smart giving to share with donors
Check out this video from fundraising expert Dr. Russell James. It includes simple, tax-smart ways for donors to give by December 31, in particular gifts of appreciated assets like stock or the IRA QCD mentioned above. You can also share the video directly with any camp donors who might find it helpful. And then, of course, follow up personally!
Sample Language Re: Tax Benefits to Share With Canadian Donors
For Canadian donors, the same rules hold: tax incentives are not the primary reason a donor will give to your camp. They’ll give because of their connection and passion for camp and the impact they can make for a mission they care about - and because you ask! But, similarly, you can use a reminder about tax benefits as a touchpoint with donors.
Sample text/resource to share with donors
As we approach year-end, we know some of you consider tax benefits as you make your philanthropic decisions. We thought you might find this Charitable Donation Calculator from The Globe & Mail helpful to estimate the combined federal and provincial after-tax cost of a charitable donation.
If you’re thinking about a gift to camp (or an additional gift to camp), doing it by December 31 can help make camp great for the coming summer and may help you take advantage of tax benefits, too.
Previous Essential Fundraising Tools and Templates:
Pre-Summer 2025
ASK: "Thank Your Counselor" Email Solicitation
Your staff make camp come alive for your campers every summer. And the costs to hire and retain quality summer staff continues to grow each year. Consider a simple post-camp email to your camper families asking them to thank and/or donate in honor of their child's favorite staff member. Thanks to Camp Ramah in the Poconos for the inspiration and the template below!
Template: Post-Camp Email Solicitation in Honor of Camp Staff
Dear <First Name>,
Thanks to our fantastic staff, we've had another amazing summer at <Camp Name>! If you would like to acknowledge your child's counselors or other staff members in a meaningful way, a donation of any amount can be made to <Camp Name> in the staff member's honor.
You can write a personal message and we'll deliver it to them. Use the email address <email> and we'll make sure that they receive it. To donate, click here. <link to online donation page>
THANK: Mad-Libs Postcard from Campers
Donors like to see the impact of their giving to camp, especially from the campers or staff who benefit the most from their generosity. URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp created a simple, fun mad-libs for campers to fill out and send to donors during camp. You can make something just like this for your campers and donors.
Template: Sample URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp Mad-Libs Postcard (shared with permission)
REPORT: Donor Zoom from Camp with Director
An exclusive Zoom event can be a simple but powerful way to connect with donors and Legacy Society members. Toni Davison Levenberg, Executive Director of Steve & Shari Sadek Family Camp Interlaken JCC, hosts a successful “Coffee with the Camp Director” each summer. Here’s how your camp team can do the same with minimal effort, including an invitation email template:
May
- Pick a Date: Consider the morning for better attendance.
- Prep Content (Optional): Create a 15 minute presentation (enrollment, staffing, new facilities, security, MESH, camp values, future plans) — or simply Zoom live around camp if connection is strong.
June
- Invite Donors: Email a select list (e.g., key donors, Legacy Society) and require registration.
- Send Reminders: Email a few follow-up reminders before the event.
Event Day
- Set Up: Use a chair, small table, and laptop in a scenic spot (or camp office if connection or weather is unreliable).
Post-Event
- Follow Up: Send a thank-you email with the recording. Offer one-on-one chats to those who missed it.
Template: Donor Zoom Email Invitation
SUBJECT: Step Into Camp from Wherever You Are – Special Invitation
Dear <First Name>,
Please "join" me lakeside for an informal chat on zoom about one of my favorite topics: <Camp Name>! Summer 2025 is shaping up to be the best ever at camp – I look forward to sharing updates and all the details with you. Join me on <Date/Time> from wherever you want to plug in – your couch or favorite coffee place; I'll be sitting by <special location at camp>! I'll do my best to bring the neshama (soul) and ruach (spirit) of <Camp Name> to you.
>> Register here! <Zoom registration link>
This interactive conversation is exclusively for our <Camp Name> donors, endowment holders, and members of our Legacy Society. We are so grateful for you and the magical experience you make possible for our campers. We look forward to bringing a bit of that magic to you on <Date>!
BONUS: ASK: Email Signature to Promote Endowment Giving
Want a simple way to market your endowment campaign? Have all staff and lay leaders add a line to their email signature promoting your permanent endowment.
Tool: Sample Email Signature Promoting Endowment:
“Be remembered forever - and help secure camp’s future - by building our endowment with a gift of any size today or a legacy commitment in your will, trust, retirement account or life insurance policy. Click here for more information. <LINK TO ENDOWMENT GIVING INFO>”
Fall 2024 - Gifts of Stock
Does your camp promote giving stock gifts? You should!
Remember, our Essential Fundraising tips and templates are intended to save you time and help you raise more money for camp. This time, we're delivering tips to help you unleash the amazing potential of gifts of stock to boost your year-end fundraising.
Need Convincing?
A groundbreaking study by Dr. Russell James, professor at Texas Tech University (and frequent presenter for HGF's Life & Legacy program), found nonprofits that consistently received gifts of appreciated stocks grew their contributions six times faster than those receiving only cash.
You Are Set Up to Accept Gifts of Stock, Right?
If you don’t already accept gifts of stock, it’s easy to get started. Simply set up a brokerage account for your camp and share the relevant information!
When someone wants to give you a gift of stock, they need to:
-
Contact you to tell you they are donating the stock. This is the only way you can attribute the gift to them and steward them effectively.
-
Transfer their stock to your camp’s Brokerage Account.
When you receive a gift of stock:
- Thank them and steward them regularly like every donor.
- Your gift acceptance policy will determine how you dispose of the stock. In nearly every case, you will sell it immediately and receive the cash proceeds.
Already Accepting Stock Gifts? Make Sure Your Donors Know
When you are set up to receive gifts of stock, tell your supporters about it!
- In direct mail solicitations
- In email solicitations
- On the “How to Support Camp” section of your website
- In your email signature
- In your e-news and print newsletters
- On social media
Sample Text to Promote Gifts of Stock: Show How Easy It Is
Modify this sample text to promote how easy it is for donors to give gifts of stock to camp:
You Can Make a Gift of Stock in Two Easy Steps
One of the best ways to contribute to <Camp Name> is through a gift of stock. It takes just two simple steps. You may even be able to make a gift AND realize greater tax benefits than by making a cash donation:
Step 1: Notify Us
Stock donations are transferred electronically without identifying donor information. We want to track your gift, thank you, and send a tax receipt. Please provide us with your name, the company whose stock you’re transferring, the number of shares, and the date of transfer. Please send this information to <Name/Phone/Email Address>.
Step 2: We will provide you with our <Company Name> brokerage account information and the DTC number for the transfer.
If you have need assistance with your gift, please contact <Name/Phone/Email Address>.
Sample Text for Email Signatures
Modify this text to add to your email signature to promote giving gifts of stock to camp:
Support <Camp Name> and save on taxes—give a gift of stock or appreciated securities! <Link to instructions>
One Last Tip
Run a report on who has given stock gifts in the past several years and send them a special message in November with all the information they need to make a gift by December 31.
Need Help?
Still not sure where to begin? Contact JCamp 180 Consultant Dan Kirsch for help getting started.
Pre-Summer 2024
ASK: Last Minute Targeted Solicitation Call Script
Right before camp, last-minute unforeseen needs crop up. A boiler blows. Your security plan gets upgraded. A roof springs a leak. A family has a setback and suddenly needs financial aid or their kids won’t be able to go to camp.
Maybe you can cover the expense out of operations, but you may also have just been presented the perfect giving opportunity for a special donor.
Some folks like to be the hero. Others only want to attach their giving to something tangible. Last-minute surprise needs can activate that kind of donor.
It’s crunch time, and every minute is precious. Using one of those minutes to make a call with a very specific and timely ASK could prove to be your smartest fundraising step all year.
Tool: Last Minute Targeted Solicitation Call Script:
Hi <Donor Name>!
This is <Name> from <Camp Name>. How are you today?
Great! We are excited about the first day of camp – just <#> days away!
I’m calling you today because we have an urgent need that just came up that I thought you might want to know about. <Describe need>. I thought this might be the kind of thing you like to support. <Explain why>. So I wanted to ask you to consider funding this <urgent need> with a gift to camp of <$$> to ensure it is ready to go for our campers this year. What do you think?
If no: Thank you for listening and thank you for making camp a reality for so many children this summer! Keep an eye out for news from <Camp Name> this summer.
If yes: Thank you so much for stepping up for <Camp Name>! Let me know how you’d like to donate and we’ll get it taken care of. Thank you for all your support!
REPORT: Sample Email with Video from Camp
Stewarding donors means confirming, informing, and affirming. A great way to report impact is to share a short video showing what their gifts make possible. Think quick shots of opening day, Havdalah, color war, or any other moment illustrating the unique ruach of your camp. You can use just a few seconds of video shot on a cellphone. Think campy, not fancy. Or repurpose video you send out to parents for donors. It’s a vivid way to show donors their impact.
Tool: Sample Email with Video from Camp:
Hi <Donor Name>!
Summer at <Camp Name> is off to an incredible start! Thanks to generous friends like you, <xx> campers are creating forever memories. I wanted to share a short video from <moment at camp> to show you the joyous Judaism you are helping create this summer. Thank you again for your continued support of <Camp Name>!
>> Click here to enjoy the <moment of camp> video! <LINK TO SHORT VIDEO>
Spring 2024
ASK: Sample Spring E-Appeal
The days leading up to camp offer a great opportunity for alumni to recall the excitement they felt counting the days and dreaming of getting back to camp. You can call on those happy memories in a spring email appeal.
Keep in mind: an enticing Subject line helps ensure that more people will see your appeal. Use the word “You” or your recipient’s first name if your data allows. Ask a Question – “Do You Remember That Feeling?” - that will provoke the reader’s curiosity enough to open the message.
Tool: Sample Spring '24 E-Appeal
THANK: Sample Spring Gift Acknowledgement
How often do you update your gift acknowledgement letters/emails?
The lead up to camp is a perfect opportunity for a refresh that doesn’t sound like a generic letter that any nonprofit could send. Here’s a template you could start with and tweak to include your camp’s unique messaging.
Tool: Sample Spring '24 Gift Acknowledgement
REPORT: Sample Text/Email/Social Media Post
Stewarding donors means confirming, informing, and affirming. Reporting impact doesn’t have to mean a fancy printed publication or highly designed infographics.
You can send a short message – include a photo – via email, text, or social media. It can be as simple as this:
Tool: Sample text/email/social media post:
There’s only XX days until camp opens. We can’t wait until our campers discover the new XXXXXXXXXX we’ve added this summer. Thanks to generous friends like you, summer '24 will be the best ever at Camp Name!
Pre-Summer 2023
THANK: Donor Visit Planning Checklist
Bringing donors to camp is the best way to show them the impact of their generosity. How can you make sure the visits are as special as possible? Start with a donor visit planning checklist.
You can find many other samples to help with your donor visits on our website, including an invitation and a camp visit follow-up letter.
Be sure every touchpoint – from the invitation through follow-up – makes your donor feel appreciated and cared for.
Tool: Donor Visit Planning Checklist
BONUS: Summer Media Checklist
Summer is the ideal time to capture the impact of your donors’ gifts. It's the time to collect the pictures, videos, and stories you can use to ask, thank, and report year-round. This checklist includes media for a variety of needs, not just development. For example, ask your photographer to take photos of campers holding blank signs that can be filled in with “Thank you!” or other phrases digitally later.
Tool: Summer Media Checklist