University of Memphis’ Playbook for Inspiring Year-End Giving

December 31st isn’t just the end of the year, it’s one of the most important moments for fundraising teams. With nearly a third of annual giving happening in December, and so many gifts coming in during the final hours, how can your team break through the noise, inspire donors, and finish strong?

Join Angela Jarvis, Leadership Gift Manager at the University of Memphis, to see how her team uses a mix of personalized video, direct mail, and structured outreach cadences to connect with donors in meaningful ways. From postcard-first campaigns to timely year-end messages, Angela’s approach helped turn “cold” outreach into warm engagement and even inspired a donor to give with just 11 minutes left in 2024.

Whether you’re planning last-minute appeals, mapping campaign workflows, or building stewardship touchpoints, this session will give you fresh ideas to maximize every donor connection before the ball drops.

What You’ll Learn

• How to plan effective calendar year-end outreach that goes beyond “one more solicitation.”
• Why multi-channel matters: Using print, video, and cadences together for greater impact.
• Real examples from Memphis: How postcards, Signal workflows, and ThankView videos drove new gifts and heartfelt donor responses.
• Practical steps your team can take today to set up December 31 outreach that inspires giving and gratitude.