When the impact of COVID-19 hit our community, I quickly noticed the immediate change in how organizations approached fundraising. I watched as many nonprofits began flooding inboxes with informal e-blasts, asking for money to support their organization. And while I understand that many of these organizations had no other choice, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would do to the relationships they had built with their donors. As an organization that values relationships among anything else, Literacy KC decided to explore a different approach.
Through donor interviews, we identified that our constituents were feeling stressed from being inundated with solicitations. During these interactions, we also spent time focused on how donors were doing, that we appreciated their previous support, and that we were thinking of them during this challenging time. When discussing this approach with the rest of our team, it was clear to us that investing in the care of our constituents would have longer-lasting effects than asking them for money.
Over the last several weeks, our development team has prioritized donor support and engagement. We have hosted happy hours, game nights, and other virtual interactions, providing opportunities for our donors to engage with staff and other donors. We still continue to make calls daily, checking in with donors, to let you all know that we’re thinking of you, and that we hope you’re okay. We’ve received positive feedback about our approach, with supporters feeling less isolated and more appreciated.
To be clear, we continue to need your support. As we increase the number of students we serve, our program team is constantly coming up with innovative ways to expand student outreach both in quantity and in quality (did you read the article by Autumn Burton?). But we want partnering with Literacy KC to go beyond just a donation. We ask that you stand alongside us as we continue to support our students and their families. The challenges we face in this new climate become exponential for low literacy adults and your investment in Literacy KC ensures they get the support they need to be successful.
–J.P. Deckert, Director of Development
To read more in our innovation series, click here to hear from Gillian Helm on Literacy KC’s response to COVID-19, here to hear from Autumn Burton on distance learning, or here to hear from Lindsay Vaughn on advocacy on a state and federal level.