New Year Kick Start: Special Projects for Mid-level Givers

Nonprofits and ministries usually focus on two ends of the giving spectrum: major donors and annual contributors. Too often, mid-level givers fall by the wayside and aren’t cultivated from the annual giver group into larger donors. In our two-part New Year Kickstart blogs, today’s post will explore pathways for mid-level givers to step forward.

One proven way to invite those who have the capacity to do more is by packaging opportunities specifically for them. These should be giving levels that aren’t what a major donor might do, but more of a stretch gift than what your annual givers are contributing.

Here are some examples:

• Our organization is seeking two donors to make a summer internship possible for a college student. Would you be willing to be one of those donors at $1500? A total of $3,000 will allow us to support housing and a stipend for a college intern from May through July this summer.
• Our program team is in need of a used trailer for taking our hygiene and health kits to schools and employers to assemble. We’re seeking five donors at $2,000 each to support the purchase of a trailer. This $10,000 investment will allow us to go onsite to locations with our program in a way we can’t now and will greatly expand our volunteer and donor base.
• We’re hoping to replace the woodchips under our children’s playground with recycled tire materials to make the play area safer. We’re seeking three donors at $2,500 each to make that possible and add a new system of new monkey bars to our equipment. 

Mid-level giving opportunities are tangible ways a donor could make a sacrificial, stretch gift to a project that could have a tremendous impact on your mission. Creating these pathways and showing donors what those next-level gifts can provide is an important piece of your overall cultivation program. 

Mid-level projects are key to building and growing major donors for your nonprofit, so kick start your organization’s new year with a plan. Enjoy the process of brainstorming and developing a menu targeted at these important next-step donors!

- Tim Smith