Why a Year-End Appeal Is Worth It: Real Stories, Real Impact, Real Partnership
In this article, you'll hear about real missionaries who boldly stepped out with a year-end appeal and saw God exceed their expectations, from surprising five-figure gifts to lasting support. Whether you're hesitant or experienced, these stories will encourage you to take your next step in fundraising with faith and confidence.
Read MoreWhy a Year-End Appeal Is Worth It: Real Stories, Real Impact, Real Partnership
Keva Ambre | Sep 17, 2025, 17:32 PM
In this article, you'll hear about real missionaries who boldly stepped out with a year-end appeal and saw God exceed their expectations, from surprising five-figure gifts to lasting support. Whether you're hesitant or experienced, these stories will encourage you to take your next step in fundraising with faith and confidence.
Year-end giving isn't just a strategy; it's an act of faith that opens the door to something new.
How? Because an end-of-year appeal connects with a different kind of donor. Donors who are moved by one-time impact, giving larger gifts, and are motivated by a fresh opportunity to make a difference before the year ends.
I’m not here to convince you to make a year-end appeal. I'm here to show you what happens through real stories of real impact. Whether you take that step, that’s for you to decide.
“I’d Never Done One and God Blew My Goal Out of the Water”
Troy had been in ministry for over 20 years and had never done a year-end appeal. He set a goal to raise $25,000. What came in? $32,500.
He didn’t just send a letter and hope for the best. He snail-mailed and emailed his appeal, posted on social media, sent DMs, and personally followed up with over 40 people. He also leaned into the support Reliant offers by scheduling an EOYA Strategy Session and joining an EOYA cohort.
Here’s what he said:
“I was surprised by how generous people were! I was also surprised by how good it felt and how much of a difference it made to personally and individually invite people to give.”
One donor gave over $13,000 to help Troy meet his goal and more came in the last few days of the year.
The lesson? According to Avid, 31% of all charitable giving happens at year-end. And 12% of all giving happens in the last three days of the year.
Don’t hold back. Set a goal that reflects your real needs, trust God, and personally follow up.
“I Raised Nearly $20K, Including New Monthly Support!”
Chris had made year-end appeals before, but never with this level of focus. He sent his appeal to about 70 people and personally followed up with 25. He snail-mailed Thanksgiving and Christmas cards, texted follow-ups, and sent ministry magnets as well as his EOY appeal letter.
The result? $19,498 raised, including a new recurring gift of $592/month.
Here’s what he said:
“New donors were a big surprise, and end-of-year was a great time to invite people who were not on my team. I was surprised that some folks who have never given, and that others gave significantly more than in the past.”
The lesson? EOYA can be an easier way to invite new donors to experience the joy of giving to your ministry. Let their “yes” to special giving open the door to a later conversation about recurring giving.
Chris has made this rhythm part of his annual strategy. And he’s not alone.
“It’s Hard Work, But It’s Totally Worth It”
Even after a decade of EOYA, Matt raised over $30,000 by sending his appeal to 150 people and doing extensive personal follow-up. He included a response card and return envelope with his appeal letter. While making sure his letter included the amount needing to be raised, along with a clear, confident invitation to give.
Matt plans out time to personally follow up in November and December and cleverly uses the slower months of the year to prep his EOYA envelopes, response card, holiday card, family photo, and appeal letter.
Here’s what he said:
“It’s a lot of work, but after doing an end-of-year appeal for almost a decade, I can see what a blessing it’s been. It’s worth it!!”
The lesson? Start early to clear the path so you can spend your energy on following up. Plan for 3-5 personal follow-ups per person.
So Why Does Year-End Giving Work?
These stories highlight a few key truths:
The EOYA Appeals to a Different Type of Donor
Monthly, automatic giving is not for everyone. Think about the business owner, those who have wealth in non-cash assets, those with a Donor-Advised Fund, or those on commission. Automatic, "set it and forget it" giving does not make sense with these donors.
Our job is to offer opportunities that come to the donor in a language they understand. And the EOY appeal can be a very natural way to open up a conversation about giving. This group is waiting for a clear, personal invitation. When you ask boldly and follow up intentionally, they respond generously.
Make it Personal and Multi-Pronged
Wade through the sea of AI messages by being a human. Care about people. Your EOYA is not a marketing campaign. Personalize as much as possible. *Examples: hand-written notes or a text asking how their son is doing in his freshman year of college.
In September, reconnect. Let your people know you're thinking of them and they're important to you. Send a text, an article, a podcast, a call, a gift. "Saw this and thought you’d appreciate it. How can I be praying for you over the next few months?" Connect in a real, human way that AI can't do.
Support at Every Step is Available
You don’t have to do this alone. That’s why Reliant is here. From coaching cohorts to consultations to letter-writing help, we have tools that make your appeal more effective and less overwhelming.
Ready to Try It This Year?
If you’ve never done a year-end appeal, or if you’ve done one but want to grow, this is your moment.
Here are a few practical encouragements to help you get started:
Set a Bold, Honest Goal: Don’t shrink your needs. Ask for what would truly put you in a strong place for the year ahead.
Make It Personal: Send your appeal to a targeted list of those who give annually, irregularly, only give when asked, have never given, or are lapsed/suspended. Follow up personally with texts, calls, letters, or DMs.
Use the Resources Reliant Offers:
Reliant Missionary? Check Toolbox and Solomon for how to access cohorts, consultations, and letter-writing help!
Not Reliant? Reach out at partner@reliant.org, and we would love to meet you and share a quick resource or two!
Final Word: This Is Ministry
Year-end giving isn’t just about dollars; it’s about discipleship. It’s about inviting people to invest in what God is doing through you. It’s about celebrating His faithfulness and trusting Him to provide again.
So go ahead. Give it a try. Send the letter. Make the call. Invite warmly and boldly.
You might just be surprised by what God does next.
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Avid Team. “Year‑End Giving Stats for Nonprofits to Maximize Giving.” Avid, 12 Dec. 2024, avidai.com/blog/year‑end‑giving‑stats‑for‑nonprofits
