I can’t thank you enough for your help…and, especially for your patience! I know I’m paying you, but you’ve gone far beyond what I would have expected. Rest assured that, when we begin distributing grants to help those kids, YOU will be largely responsible for doing God’s work.

Harold W.

Founder

$115

average gift

$38,363

raised so far

154

new donors supporting the cause

The founder of the Cheryl Lyn Welter Charitable Foundation, Harold, had a mission of providing $50-250 grants to teachers and others who work with students K-12 who are underprivileged after his daughter, Cheryl, died in an auto accident the night before homecoming. Cheryl loved being involved in her high school activities. Harold wanted every student struggling with finances to have access to books, sporting equipment, and field trips, ensuring a fulfilling school experience. Harold, a one-person show, runs the foundation while also maintaining a full-time job as a financial adviser. As a new foundation, it needed to reach $37,000 by year-end to start providing grants in 2018!

Challenge & Solution

Not knowing how to optimize his supporters or his current communication channels, he enlisted [GiveSmart] ‘s support. Together, they created a multi-channel fundraising strategy and communications plan, complete with week-to-week activity outlines. The [GiveSmart] team helped him set up his peer-to-peer fundraising page, online donation forms, and a text keyword (Text Cheryl to 71777). Harold was then encouraged and guided to share these digital fundraising tools with messages and methods that would generate the most awareness and support for his cause.  

As the foundation’s founder and the only part-time volunteer, there was a lot to do and very little time available. But Harold was ambitious and followed all the best practices that [GiveSmart] provided. He reached out to his network and community through social media, local media, school events, and peer-to-peer fundraising. He also posted regular videos on social media, sharing status updates about the foundation’s work. 

Results

The support began to roll in, and 194 donors collectively contributed $37,062.65 by year-end, successfully meeting his $37,000 goal to endow his foundation grants in 2018. The outcome was a direct result of focused planning combined with digital fundraising tools that empowered him to connect with donors and build support. In February 2018, Harold and the Cheryl Welter Foundation began distributing grants to teachers in Knox, Indiana. After reaching their goal and realizing even more potential, the foundation now has a “Drive for 55” campaign to raise $55,000 to enable more grants as school starts again in August.  

About the Organization

Cheryl Lyn Welter Charitable Foundation

In memory of Cheryl’s love of helping others and her love of participating in school activities, the Cheryl Lyn Welter Family Charitable Foundation has been established to help needy students in grades K-12 have similar experiences and opportunities. Proceeds from the endowment will be awarded as grants to those responsible for helping underprivileged children.