Key Dates
Keep your campaign on track with these important milestones.
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| September 17, 2025 |
Registration begins |
| September 30, 2025 |
Registration Ends. Endow MS Credit Applications due for donors giving over $1,000. |
| October 1, 2025 |
Early Giving Starts |
| October 5, 2025 |
Fund Landing Page edits due. (photo, brief description) and QR Code and Donation URL will be provided to you. |
| October 31, 2025 |
Early giving ENDS. Last day to make a donation eligible for ENDOW MS Credits. |
| November 18, 2025 |
The Heart of Mississippi Gives Kickoff Celebration! The start of our two-week region-wide giving period. |
| December 2, 2025 |
The LAST DAY to GIVE! Giving Tuesday 2025!! |
Thank Your Donors
Grab the tools you need to celebrate and cultivate your supporters.
Email Templates
Copy-ready outreach emails to inspire your supporters.
Subject: Today’s the Day | Put Your Giving Shoes On
[Salutation],
The [donation campaign] is TODAY, and we are asking you to join us in our efforts to make this the most awesome day of giving the has ever seen!
We are writing to ask you to take five minutes to give to [name of organization – link to your page]. After that, you can give to other nonprofits that do work that you support or just kick back and watch how high the giving can go at cfnm.org/theheartgivesms/.
Your donation of any amount will help [give specific examples, or insert a sliding scale of what $25, $50, $100 etc can do].
Here’s how you can make a HUGE difference today:
- Make a donation (link to your donation page!)
- Spread the word. Text a friend. Forward this email. Post on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #your-hashtag Oh, and you can also just tell someone in person – that works, too.
Join us in supporting the campaign!
Dear [First Name],
The [Early Giving Donation Campaign] starts TODAY, and we need your help to make this the most impactful day of giving our community has ever seen!
We’re asking you to take five minutes right now to give to [Name of Organization – link to your page]. Once you’ve made your gift, you can explore other nonprofits that align with your passions—or simply kick back and watch the collective impact soar at [Website].
Your donation of any amount will help [share specific impact statements—e.g., $25 funds…, $50 provides…, $100 covers…].
Here’s how you can make a HUGE difference today:
1. Make a donation: [Link to your donation page]
2. Spread the word—text a friend, forward this email, and post on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtag #[your-hashtag]. Prefer a face-to-face invite? That works, too!
Thank you for standing with us and fueling the momentum!
With gratitude,
[Your Name]
[Title], [Organization]
[Contact Info]
Stewardship Tips
Donor Stewardship is about effectively caring for your donors in a way that allows you to foster long-term relationships with them that are beneficial to everyone involved. This means conveying how much you really appreciate each donor’s contribution to your organization and how much you care about them as members of your community.
Following an effective stewardship plan can help you to create strong personal connections between your donors and your mission, transitioning them from supporters to integral members of your organization.
Donor Stewardship begins before you receive your first donations. When you are first building out your profile you should start to think about how you can use the information you provide to foster future Donor Stewardship efforts. Work on utilizing your story, donation levels, and Peer-to-Peer fundraising to foster a greater sense of connection and relationship-building with your supporters!
Donor Stewardship and the gratitude that you show for your donors does not begin and end with The Heart of Mississippi Gives. Rather, it is about starting a dialogue with your donors that makes them feel as though they are a concrete part of your organization and community.
You can start this dialogue by asking your donors how they prefer to be contacted (phone, email, text message, etc.) and then proceed to contact them in that way. Showing initial respect for their preferences will go a long way.
Ask your donors for feedback and be a responsive and active listener by monitoring your social channels and emails to keep track of popular suggestions. Make sure you follow up with your donors and inform them of how you are using your feedback to move forward.
Resources
Logos, graphics, and other resources to help you