Be a Big Fish in a Small Pond

By Marybeth Gardam
WILPF US Development Committee

April 2021

Even members of moderate means can leave a meaningful bequest to WILPF US. You can choose to leave money to larger and more prominent peace, justice, and environmental allies, or more local ones. But arguably your money won’t mean as much or go as far at those gigantic organizations as it will at WILPF US.

When I became Development Chair at WILPF US around 2014, I decided to find out from some peers at other organizations how they find and approach new major donors. Our aging members are finding it difficult to continue to support WILPF as generously as they used to do. We need to begin to find new donors who can make up the difference and help us plan beyond just survival. 

So I called the national Sierra Club Development Director and explained how important it was for our 100+ year old organization to identify progressive women donors who could become major donors to WILPF. I wondered how they managed to find new major donors. He seemed confused.  

“Well, we have over 100,000 members and we make a commitment to contact each one of them personally at least once during every year,” he said. “Frankly, our staff of development professionals has all we can do to mine our own list, without looking for anyone new outside our list.”  

It took my breath away. 100,000+ members. A professional STAFF (as in more than two!) to make contacts. People to whom one could potentially delegate such important annual contacts!  

Most big national organizations… especially those with WILPF’s longevity… have the means and resources to do that kind of development work. We have a computer list of far fewer established donors, and most of them donate less than $50. Fully two-thirds of our members don’t contribute anything beyond their dues, though I bet a lot of them donate to Sierra Club or other worthy nonprofits. 

I can’t help imagining how WILPF US would benefit if we could afford to hire even a full-time development director, let alone a staff of people to make constant fundraising emails or phone calls!

To touch base even once a year personally with our 40 or so ‘large donors’ is a stretch. But we are committed to doing it. And unlike bigger nonprofits, we don’t mail, email, or phone our regular members to ask for money more than a couple times a year. It keeps us going, but it doesn’t necessarily ensure a sustainable future. 

Bequests Close the Gap and Support Grassroots Actions

Bequests and legacy gifts have long been important for keeping our organization sustainable. They still are. And making those gifts can be possible even for those of moderate means.  

By declaring WILPF US a beneficiary on an insurance policy you don’t need, adding a simple sentence or two to your will, or making WILPF the recipient of pension fund remainders after your death, your legacy can help ensure that our work for peace goes forward and we’re still here when your granddaughters are looking to support solidarity peace work that matters. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like WILPF will be unnecessary any time soon.   

For WILPF, bequests often help us close the gap and keep us afloat. A percentage of every bequest goes to our long-term investment accounts, as protection against hard times or to help us make large one-time purchases that we repay within weeks or months. But we don’t squirrel away much. We put your money to work, developing the kinds of time-sensitive actions and resources that support our members and branches. The balance of those bequests helps us meet the day-to-day expenses of running a national nonprofit on a very slender margin.   

Request a copy of the Bequest Brochure or contact us to inquire about how to make the simple arrangements that send WILPF a little love when your activism days are over. Invest in the future of this organization in which you have already invested your time and energy. It’s easier than you think! We’ll walk you through every step and even help you talk with your heirs about your final wishes. Contact us at bequests@wilpfus.org.