Giving Tuesday is the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. Our local Thurston County Give Local event sponsored by the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound will also be in November on the 6-7. Next month, I’ll be writing about Washington Gives Give Big, which is the statewide giving day on May 2-3 and next week, April 4 is Library Giving Day. These giving days are intended to allow nonprofits to reach new donors through social media and peer-to-peer fundraising. Peer-to-peer fundraising is when board members and nonprofit supporters introduce their friends (usually via social media) to the nonprofits which they support. In this case, full disclosure I am a member of the Timberland Library Board of Trustees. While some nonprofits use these days to engage their current donors, in truth, the intention is to gain new donors. So, with so many giving days on the calendar, the question remains – do they work? The quick answer is yes! Giving days work because they focus everyone at an organization on one simple task; raising as much money as possible on a single day(s). Giving days provide the nonprofit with the opportunity to engage their board, staff, and volunteers as a fundraising team to reach out to engage new donors and spread the word about the impact of their nonprofit.
Timberland Regional Library will be participating this year in Library Giving Day - a nationwide day of fundraising to support individual library systems on April 4, 2023. Since 2019, over 400 library organizations across the United States and Canada have participated in this annual one-day fundraising event benefitting local libraries. The funds received on Library Giving Day will help ensure that communities can continue to enjoy free access to modern and helpful resources and services, making a significant difference in the lives of patrons, especially during this time of rising costs and inflation. Donations will further support TRL’s strategic direction focusing on expanding services to underserved communities, improving accessibility, supporting early learning initiatives, collaborative partnerships, and outreach.
Exciting changes from the past year include:
“For the communities we serve, there is tremendous value in supporting local libraries and library staff,” TRL Executive Director Cheryl Heywood said. “We care deeply about the people who use and rely on our libraries. Wherever and whenever people access TRL, we want them to feel comfortable and welcome.”
Timberland Regional Library welcomes everyone to a vibrant world of possibilities; connecting people, places, and ideas; evolving to meet the needs of our communities; and access for all. You can support Timberland Regional Library by donating on or before April 4 via TRL.org/donate. Timberland Regional LIBRARY provides for the entertainment, information, and lifelong learning needs of Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston county residents at 29 community public library locations. The library system is funded mainly by local property taxes, timber tax, fundraising efforts of TRL Friends of the Library, and generous donations by individual supporters. All Timberland library programs are free and open to the public.
In recognition of the 2023 National Library Week, the fourth week in April, the Governor’s Mansion Foundation has created “Library Only” tours that will focus strictly on the Mansion Library on Wednesdays, April 5 and 12th, at 11:30 a.m. Regular mansion tours of all the public rooms of the mansion will also be available on those days at 10:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. Those who wish to attend both tours – Library and Regular – must make two separate reservations. The “Library Focus” tours will be part lecture and partly hands-on discovery, and visitors will only visit the library on the main floor. According to the Governor’s Mansion Foundation, visitors will learn about the library’s rare books, Washington State history and personalities, and donors to the library as well as gain an appreciation for how the Governor’s Mansion Library committee documents and preserves history. Visitors will enter and leave the Mansion by the front door, walk through the Drawing Room both coming and going, and remain in the library for 45 minutes. Due to space limitations, tours can only seat ten guests. For reservations, go to Tours | Department of Enterprise Services (DES) (wa.gov) to complete an online Mansion Tour request form. Reservations MUST be made at least 24 hours in advance. However, tours fill up fast so the earlier you make your reservation, the better. For questions or additional information, please contact the State Capitol Tour Office at 360.902.8880 or email at tours@des.wa.gov (please put in subject line Gov. Mansion Tours).
Soliciting your ideas
If you know of a nonprofit that is doing something great, celebrating a success, needs some outstanding volunteers, or hosting an event, let me know! This column (aside from a little education) celebrates nonprofits
Mary Beth Harrington, CVA (Certified Volunteer Administrator) lives in Tumwater. She travels the country speaking at conferences and to individual organizations articulating issues facing nonprofits. Send your ideas to her at MaryBeth@theJOLTnews.com
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here