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.
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!
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.
Be sure every touchpoint – from the invitation through follow-up – makes your donor feel appreciated and cared for.
Tool: Sample URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp Mad-Libs Postcard (shared with permission)
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>
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 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>”
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
ASK: Last Minute Targeted Solicitation Call Script
Right before camp, last-minute unforeseen needs crop up. A boiler blows. Or a roof springs a leak. Or 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!
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
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>
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
Spring 2023
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 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 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 '23 will be the best ever at Camp Name!