Features

REIMAGINED DEVELOPMENT

With COVID-19 standing in the way of the 30th annual Holiday House, the women of JLLR do what they do best: Get creative.

by MEAGAN DAVIS LOFTON

This year has provided our League with a unique opportunity to be innovative with our development

plan. The necessity of social distancing and the postponement of the 30th anniversary of Holiday House sparked the need for creativity in fundraising. Through this, members have shown resilience, originality, and expeditiousness in developing new fundraising opportunities to fit the current environment and support the League’s Mission.

Thinking strategically, we’ve focused on crafting fundraisers around the needs of consumers; creating virtual activities and socially distanced offerings to fill the gaps left by the inability to gather and celebrate the holidays as usual. Further, we’ve developed these fundraising initiatives to cultivate new sponsor and donor relationships, to complement our existing fundraisers, and to diversify the League’s revenue for future years.

FIRST VIRTUAL FUNDRAISER

Our first fundraising initiative of the year was the “You’ve Been Booed!” Halloween fundraiser. This fundraiser offered seven varieties of Halloween gift baskets, providing friends and families a fun, alternative way to celebrate this holiday. The Boo Baskets were priced at $35, and there was great interest from both members and the community. We exceeded our initial goal of $1,000 raised within the first week of selling baskets and our hope is that this can be a sustainable future fundraiser for the League.

THE SLEIGH BELL SOIREE The “Sleigh Bell Soiree: A Cyber Celebration” is November 11-14, with each day featuring both a virtual pop-up shop and virtual

activity. This event was designed to support small and local businesses,

"Members have shown resilience, originality, and expeditiousness in developing new fundraising opportunities to fit the current environment and support the League’s Mission."

— Meagan Davis Lofton, Development Vice President

cultivate new development relationships, and provide a unique holiday shopping experience and exciting themed activities for customers. Each virtual pop-up

shop, hosted through private Facebook groups, will showcase specially curated

items. The first night will consist of high-end products, the second night will focus on gifts for ladies, the third night will feature gifts for men, and the fourth and final day will showcase products for children. The virtual activities include Mistletoe & Mixology: A Virtual Cocktail Class, Home for the Holidays: A Virtual Wreath Making Course, Charcuterie Cheer: A Virtual Lesson in the Art of Charcuterie, and Santa’s Workshop: Virtual Craft Time for Children. In addition, JLLR will host a silent auction throughout the event. The silent auction will feature fantastic items and virtual services offered by our talented members, including courses on painting, music, and entrepreneurship.

CONTINUED EFFORTS

We will continue to offer innovative fundraising opportunities throughout the year, with a Gift of Giving Campaign in December, a New Year’s Resolution Summit in January (featuring virtual courses on work-life balance, financial freedom, mindfulness, and healthy living), and a Valentine’s Day-themed fundraiser in February.

We are proud of the development plan we have created for this year and thankful for the opportunity to be creative in developing new fundraising initiatives and for the support of membership and sustainers as we launch these projects. Most of all, we are hopeful that this year, despite its challenges, will ultimately bring our League closer to the goals of our Strategic Plan: to prioritize our revenue growth, diversify our revenue sources, and allow us to continue to invest in our members, our mission, and our community.

POP-UP SHOPS

NOVEMBER 11 'Tis the Season: A Sophisticated Shopping Affair

NOVEMBER 12 Merry Market: Gifts for Her

NOVEMBER 13 Jolly Gentlemen: Gifts for Him

NOVEMBER 14 Tinsel & Tots: Gifts for Children

VIRTUAL EVENTS

NOVEMBER 11 Mistletoe & Mixology: A Virtual Cocktail Class

NOVEMBER 12 Home for the Holidays: A Virtual Wreath-Making Course

NOVEMBER 13 Charcuterie Cheer: A Virtual Lesson in the Art of Charcuterie

NOVEMBER 14 Santa's Work Shop: A Virtual Craft Time for Children

Visit facebook.com/JuniorLeagueLittleRock for more information on how to sign up for virtual events and start shopping.