The Impact of an Anniversary Campaign in Today's Economy |
Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care
20th Anniversary Campaign
Amount Raised: over $600,000
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In these challenging economic times, it is more important than ever for nonprofits to leverage opportunities of celebration as a unique fundraising catalyst. An anniversary celebration can serve as a means of rallying current supporters around a new initiative, generating new supporters through cultivation and involvement, or kicking off or concluding a recent fundraising campaign effort, amongst other things.
Since milestone anniversaries for organizations only occur so often, they also serve as a great opportunity to truly connect with your past, current and new donors. You should consider anniversary campaigns, and all campaigns for that matter, as an opportunity to thank your donors, provide your supporters with perspective on your history and communicate your strategy for growth, all of which will help you strengthen donor and volunteer relationships for years to come.
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Every nonprofit organization should take full advantage of these special occasions and create an anniversary celebration campaign that clearly outlines the organization’s strengths, culture and vision. A successful anniversary campaign often showcases accomplishments of the organization’s unique mission and values while developing a fundraising strategy that includes cultivating high net-worth individuals, foundations and corporations.
Many times, organizations will kick-off or end an anniversary campaign with an event. The key is to build an event that will create a “draw” for guests that is interesting or noteworthy – from your program participants and honorees to VIP guests and special appearances. It is also vital to determine a cost structure and budget that will position your organization for financial success. This process will require consensus-building within your Board of Directors to gain their support of the anniversary event, securing a network of financial supporters, creating compelling donor recognition benefits and engaging leadership from inside and outside your organization's network to become involved.
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Health Affairs, published by Project HOPE
25th Anniversary Campaign
Amount Raised: $2,900,000
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Robert F. Kennedy Memorial
35th Anniversary Campaign
Amount Raised: $800,000
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Planning for your organization’s anniversary is a critical, highly creative yet time consuming process. To be truly effective and maximize the potential of this opportunity, an organization needs to strategically assess unique fundraising opportunities, create key messages, and set clear objectives for the anniversary celebration. OAI is well equipped to help you assess your current situation, formulate a shared vision for the future, and identify the steps necessary to maximize your organization's long-term potential through your next anniversary celebration.
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What's New: Board Retreat Services |
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 On March 28, 2009 OAI facilitated a retreat for the Board of Directors at the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. In preparation for the retreat, the team, led by Steve Orr, conducted a series of interviews with members of the Board and staff to gain a sense of PEN/Faulkner’s specific organizational challenges.
Following the interviews, the OAI team designed a board retreat agenda that strategically addressed all key issues in a constructive manner, with a specific focus on the organization’s mission, fundraising efforts and organizational structure. The day of the retreat, Steve Orr served as the objective moderator and consultant for the group, addressing conflicting areas of growth and concern among the Board.
As a result of the PEN/Faulkner Board retreat, the group was able to openly address organizational stresses and effectively brainstorm solutions and next steps. OAI is confident that PEN/Faulkner is moving in the right direction to advance its programmatic, organizational, operational and funding needs.
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Meet Our New and Returning Clients |
Meet All Our Clients |
READ Global
Development Management
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International Relief and Development
Events Management |
Center for Security Policy
Events Management
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 Katie Delsandro joined the OAI team in 2007 as an Associate of Marketing and Development. After proving herself as an invaluable team member, Katie was promoted to the Associate Director position this past December. During her time at OAI, Katie has had the opportunity to work with a number of OAI clients including The Kingsbury Center, the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities, Youth, I.N.C. (Improving Non-profits for Children), and Project HOPE in the areas of event fundraising and management, campaign management, development management and strategic planning.
Q: Congratulations on your new role as an Associate Director! Are you looking forward to the new experiences and challenges that await you?
A: Absolutely! The Associate Director role at OAI offers a great opportunity to expand my fundraising skills in so many different ways. I really look forward to being more involved with strategy and partnering with my clients on a daily basis to help them achieve their goals.
Q: Within the last year you’ve had the opportunity to work with a variety of clients. What are some of your most memorable accomplishments?
A: It is always exciting to see an organization not only meet but exceed its own expectations. In the past year I’ve been lucky enough to be on client teams where “dream” development initiatives came to fruition, event expectations were surpassed, and fundraising goals were shattered. My most memorable moments come with the realization that these organizations will be able to do more good because of the impact OAI has on their strategic development and success.
Q: Any client in particular stick out to you as having achieved record-breaking success?
A: The 2008 Marriott Bridges Recognition Dinner raised over $1,157,000 and welcomed almost 1,300 guests to the event. Both revenue numbers and attendance numbers were record-breaking – a true accomplishment after a 10 year partnership with Marriott. We’re looking forward to growing those numbers once again at this year’s Bridges Recognition Dinner on May 27, 2009!
Q: On a personal note, we understand that you were an actress and singer before joining the “working world.” Are you still able to act and sing during your free time?
A: Over the past couple of years I’ve become much more of a “theater-goer” than a “theater-doer,” but with DC’s awesome theater scene I don’t mind at all! I still love going to shows and thinking about the process and the hard work that goes into putting them together. I may not be on the stage all that often, but that certainly doesn’t stop me from singing. I’m always up for a show tune! |
OAI Project Highlights and Recaps |
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The Washington Animal Rescue League hosted a very successful first time event for approximately 650 guests and their canine friends on Saturday, April 25th at Union Station. The event raised visibility for the League and their mission, and the money raised will help support the League in their efforts to promote the welfare of companion animals and support the people who love them through animal rescue, rehabilitation, adoption and affordable veterinary care. The evening’s program included remarks by Jim Handly and Wendy Rieger of NBC4, Dr. Gary Weitzman, Executive Director of the League and the keynote address was delivered by Gene Weingarten, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Washington Post Columnist and Author of Old Dogs: Are the Best Dogs. |
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OAI is in the midst of assisting the DC College Access Program (DC-CAP) raise the remaining $15M of a $40M campaign. We began our work with DC-CAP, an organization founded and chaired by Don Graham, Chairman of The Washington Post and dedicated to giving every DC public school student an opportunity at a college education, on November 1, 2008 with a goal of raising $750,000 by April 30, 2009. OAI has successfully raised over $2M for the organization to date, far surpassing our original goal of $750,000. We look forward to continuing to assist DC-CAP raise the final $13M needed to complete the $40M campaign. |
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Antietam Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a 501(c)3 supporting Washington County Hospital in Hagerstown, MD, is conducting a $16M capital campaign to support the building of a new regional medical center. OAI was hired in October of 2008 to manage the fundraising efforts to raise the remaining $8M of the $16M goal. Since we began our work with AHF, we have raised over $3M, reestablished key leadership groups, and held five cultivation events for current donors and prospects – including a steel signing for donors to “make their mark” on the steel of the new hospital. Our success in reinvigorating Campaign supporters is exemplified by the work of the Medical Staff Committee; this key group of physicians has not only raised over $1.2M from fellow physicians since last October, but has also increased their goal by $1M to ensure a fifth floor will be built in the new facility, which will provide over 30 additional beds in the new hospital. We look forward helping AHF continue to raise funds to hit and exceed the $16M goal. |
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Upon the conclusion of a three month assignment for The Excel Institute in mid-January, OAI delivered an achievable yet aggressive one year and five year development plan to the organization. After presenting a plan to the Board of Directors that OAI believed in and was prepared to implement, The Excel Institute hired OAI on February 1, 2009 as their outsourced development office. The OAI team is excited and currently hard at work for The Excel Institute and looks forward to seeing some immediate success for this great organization. |
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The Washington Animal Rescue League’s Yappy Hour, held on February 12, 2009 at Hudson Restaurant and Lounge, brought over 150 dog-lovers and friends together from all over the metro region for a night of fun and networking. It was a full house, with over half of the patrons bringing pets, enjoying cocktails and treats for themselves and their dogs. Wagtime Pet Spa and Boutique contributed goody bags for pets and Federal Company donated goody bags for their owners. Many excellent raffle prizes were donated by The Posh Pooch, Bang Salon and Houndstooth Photography. The League exceeded expected ticket sales, and looks forward to another fun-filled Yappy Hour this summer! |
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On March 2, 2009, Youth, I.N.C. (Improving Non-profits for Children) hosted two exciting events for Net Gain athletes and sponsors. At Hunter College, nearly 70 Net Gain athletes participated in an intensive basketball clinic run by New York Knicks current and former players Anthony Bonner, Wilson Chandler, Danillo Gallinari, Anthony Mason, John Starks and Chris Wilcox. Following the clinic, Net Gain sponsors attended a private dinner with New York Knicks Coach Mike D’Antoni at the ‘21’ Club, gaining insight and perspective into the life of an NBA coach. |
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Over 400 people attended International Relief and Development’s Awards Ceremony and Reception on March 18, 2009. The reception, held in the Russell Senate Office Building, celebrated the organization’s 10-year anniversary. Her Majesty Queen Noor, Senator Christopher Dodd, Representative Kay Granger and The Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict were all honored and received an award. The evening’s program also included a 5-minute video highlighting IRD's important international work. |
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Upcoming Events |
View All Events |
Friends of the National Library of Medicine
Annual Awards Dinner
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Washington, DC • May 5, 2009
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Friends of the National Library of Medicine
2009 Conference
Personal Electronic Health Records:
From Biomedical Research to People's Health
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Washington, DC • May 20-21, 2009
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Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities
Bridges Recognition Dinner
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Washington, DC • May 27, 2009
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