Does your gift make a difference?
The short answer: yes!
I have been working in the field of fundraising for the better part of a decade and folks often question whether their gift makes a difference to an organization. Sure, if you were the only one donating $25 and no one else did, it might not make a difference. But if we’ve learned anything from 2020, it’s the value of community and working together.
When the pandemic hit and we weren’t sure what our funding would look like, we reached out and it was the collective group of individuals who donated that allowed us to have the necessary funds available to run a successful field season and safely house our field staff. When our staff couldn’t get out and work on the trails because of the governor’s orders back in April, it was individual volunteers who stepped up and collectively were able to prepare the Long Trail System for hiking season.
As the year 2020 winds down and we take stock of what was important to us, I ask you to consider donating to the organizations that provide a meaningful resource to you because it truly makes a difference. We cannot understate the value of your gift, regardless of the size, because when many people come together to support an organization, great things can happen. And at the Green Mountain Club, we want 2021 to be great.
Personally, when I look back at 2020, my favorite memory is hiking up Camel’s Hump with my six-year-old daughter Lane. Thinking about this day brings me joy, and I am grateful the trail and mountain were there for us during what was a very difficult time adjusting to a hybrid school model for her and working from home with two small children for me.
This year my family will be making a donation to the Green Mountain Club because we benefited from the 500 miles of trails which were there for us when we needed them most. And while it’s not an organizational-changing gift, I know that if others do the same, we can ensure the trails and mountains will be there for more days of joy.
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