Not bad for my first year in development…

I try not to write about work too much here, but I can’t resist today.
Today we released the official numbers for this past year’s campaign, and I’m so proud I could burst.
Click here to read the details in the press release.

A summary:

“This was indeed a breakthrough year as we shattered a number of fundraising records:
$121 million - overall campaign. This beats our previous record of $101 million in 2004-2005 by $20 million, and our goal of $109 million by $12 million.
$ 61 million to United Way of King County - This is also an all-time high and is a 54% increase over last year (39.5 million)
$ 60 million directed philanthropy to strengthen communities.

The $61 million raised for United Way of King County is comprised of:
$ 38.5 million pledged during the campaign for UWKC, and it’s priorities. (exceeded our goal of $38 million)
$ 22.5 million to the Gates Challenge endowment. - (exceeded our goal of $15 million) This is greater the four times the previous record raised in one year.”

After 7 months of contract work in development here and 4 more as a permanent member of the Workplace Giving/Fundraising team, it’s so great to know that all my hard work is really helping to accomplish something, and that all the faith these generous people in our community is putting in us is worth it. It really has been like nonprofit boot camp for me, on top of a difficult personal year, and I know I’ll only get better. I can’t wait for this fall’s campaign, as I feel really good about the kind of work we’ll be able to do in the coming year.

This $121 million dollar overall campaign makes us the number one fundraising United Way not just in the country but in all of North America! And that doesn’t just mean I feel good about working here, but that I feel DAMN GREAT about living here: we have the most generous, caring, active, invested citizens! This is not just about dollars, but about making a difference, and it’s the donors who deserve the credit and the accolades. I work a lot with direct mail and with campaigns in the public sector, where people really aren’t making THAT much money, and I know in my heart (and in my spreadsheets) how much of those numbers are made up of $10 checks from little old ladies and $6 per paycheck from entry-level secretaries. The generosity of people that I see now, compared to those years slogging around in entertainment with a bunch of self-serving hucksters… All I’m saying is that those people are not just making progress in healing our community but my heart as well.