The Foundation at West River Health Services has become a member of the Impact Foundation, which allows us to participate in numerous fundraising trainings, workshops and ultimately, next year’s “Giving Hearts Day” on February 14th, 2019. Giving Hearts Day (GHD) has become the single largest, one-day fundraising event in the state of North Dakota. Last year, over 28,000 individuals and organizations made nearly 65,000 donations totaling over $13.1 million for 400 nonprofit organizations via givingheartsday.org.
The Impact Foundation evolved out of the Dakota Medical Foundation (DMF) in 2008, when they launched a bold new endeavor to create the region’s first giving day for health-related charities. To bolster support, DMF provided match funding to all participating organizations. That first year, they raised $479,000.
By 2012, organizations that were not health-related, suggested they could raise their own match from generous donors in their community. Something incredibly impactful was uncovered – these organizations that raised their own match were highly successful. Their donors engaged like never before. They saw an increase in major gifts through their match requests that happened prior to GHD and by donors that matched gifts for the community on GHD.
Each participating nonprofit has experienced breakthroughs with major gift requests, lapsed donors returning, and new donors being added to their fundraising system because of this innovative approach. The average gain in new donors on Giving Hearts Day is 20%! Simply put – the match opportunity and Impact Foundation platform allows West River Health Services Foundation to accelerate our results.
The conditions surrounding Giving Hearts Day leads to a groundswell for fundraising success. This event combines a highly visible opportunity for giving, by joining with others, a deadline that generates urgency, and a chance to match or be matched in contributions. Over the last eleven years, Giving Hearts Day has raised a grand total of over $54 million!
If anyone in our area community would like to join our West River Health Services Foundation’s “Giving Hearts Day Team” or would like to learn more about this sensational opportunity to further improve our top-notch healthcare “close to home,” please contact Ted Uecker at the WRHS Foundation at 701-567-3666 or attend our “Giving Hearts Day Kickoff Meeting” on Tuesday, August 14, 6:30pm in the WRHS Board Room. If you plan to attend, please contact Ted prior to the 14th.
TOGETHER we can make a huge impact on the success of our local healthcare system. And, after all, top-notch healthcare benefits everyone. Onward!
By Ted Uecker, WRHS Foundation