LIBBY KING | JANUARY 30, 2021
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were worried about fundraising for 2020 — but our donors came through in a time of crisis.
We know innovation demands that we ask “Why?” and “Why not?” This is one of our six core values crafted by staff during our strategic planning process in 2019.
Little did we know that in 2020, we would be asking ourselves this on the daily.
There were many challenges in 2020 – how can we best serve our community, how can we serve our staff — and with all of this, how do we fund the organization?
We decided to keep sharing our progress — to talk about all of the swift changes we made, and how our clients were hit hardest by the crisis.
In January 2020, we set a goal of $1,500,000 for the annual campaign. By July 2020, the goal was reset to $750,000. We wrestled with if it was appropriate to ask for money when so many were losing their jobs and affected by COVID-19.
We decided to keep sharing our progress — to talk about all of the swift changes we made, and how our clients were hit hardest by the crisis.
And our community responded and in a big way.
Remarkably, you helped raise over $1,000,000 for the 2020 Annual Campaign.
You recognized that by supporting us, you could make an immediate difference for someone facing eviction or someone without utilities. You helped change locks for intimate partner abuse survivors and provided food for families. You stepped up to help your community during an unprecedented crisis — a crisis that continues today.
Remarkably, you helped raise over $1,000,000 for the 2020 Annual Campaign. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
We thank you for your support. We thank you for your commitment to the communities we serve. And we hope that you will support us again this year as we continue to adapt, innovate, and meet our clients where they are.
Read our latest Letter from Leadership from Executive Director Michael Lucas.
Libby King
Development Director
Check out more from this author.
Libby is originally from Columbus, Georgia. She has served the Atlanta community for almost 17 years in various capacities.
Prior to working at AVLF, Libby worked as the Director of Institutional Advancement at Atlanta Technical College. Prior to this, she raised funds for ovarian cancer research and served in fundraising and community outreach roles at Visiting Nurse|Hospice Atlanta. She was a communications assistant in the Office of Governor Roy E. Barnes after graduating from Clemson University with a BA in Political Science.