What’s your reason?
By: Margaret Owens
Tags: Fundraising, Volunteering, Nonprofit, Democracy, Voting

I’d like to ask you a question: Why are you here?

You may have come here after seeing us on CNN Heroes. Maybe you’ve been with IssueVoter since its beginnings in 2016. Or, maybe you stumbled here from a post shared by that one random Facebook friend you’re not quite sure how you know in real life.

Whatever the reason you’re here, welcome!

One of the things I love about IssueVoter, and part of the reason why I’m here, is the diversity of our community. From college students who have just voted for the first time to retirees looking for new avenues of involvement, there is a piece of legislation and place for everyone.

I am sure this fall (and all of 2020!) has felt hectic and at times, difficult for everyone. We at IssueVoter are in the same boat. In the past months, we have…

Worked to help you stay updated on COVID-19 legislation by monitoring the over 1,000 bills introduced,

Held 10+ workshops to inform voters before the election about everything from registering to how to engage year-round

Continued to share our free lesson plan geared towards middle and high school students

And, a proud moment of recognition, we were highlighted by CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute as one of 8 nonprofit organizations!

Why then, with so much going on, are we adding on a year-end fundraising campaign? Right now, you may be hearing from a lot of the organizations you support making similar asks for end-of-year donations. This is because the holiday season is essential for nonprofits like IssueVoter.

Here’s why:

⅓ of all donations to nonprofits are made in December. (That number is 75% for IssueVoter!)

12% of all donations are made in the last 3 days of the year.

The end of the year also represents the last chance for donors to make tax-deductible gifts before New Year’s.

All of this is to say, if you were ever going to make the donation, now is the time!

We now have a goal to raise $62,500 this December, as every dollar up to $62,500 will be matched by Subaru, a supporter of CNN Heroes!

Help us achieve this goal by making a donation to IssueVoter.

$62,500 is not insignificant to us — that is a life-changing amount of money! However, creating meaningful change is our goal. By making democracy accessible and ensuring government officials are listening to their constituents, we are working to help everyday Americans have a voice. Non-profit fundraising is not that different from democratic participation; it takes many people doing small acts to create significant change.

Returning to the question I first asked you: Why are you here?

As you reflect on your answer, I’d like to bet that at least one of your reasons for coming to IssueVoter is reason enough to also make a donation.

The best reason to donate is your answer to “Why are you here?” Without your help, we truly would not be where we are today.

If those reasons don’t cover it, here are some additional ways your donation matters:

Every dollar helps send over 150 opinions to Congress, including yours!

With just $10 a month, you can educate 250 new voters.

A one-time gift of $100 will fuel sending over 14,000 opinions to Congress.

I don’t want to sound trite, but your one dollar donation can be the dollar that allows us to stay a free public resource. We are grateful for every donation, empowering IssueVoter to expand our services and empower new people.