How 12 Fundraising Teams Scaled Giving Day Outreach—and Saw Major Results

Giving Days have become a critical element of annual giving programs, as demonstrated by several of our Version2.ai Innovation Partners this Spring. Now that many giving days have ended and we’ve moved into fiscal year-end, we took the opportunity to analyze how the Virtual Engagement Officer (VEO) contributed to the success of the 12 Giving Days it fundraised for.

Gift officers spend time cultivating and engaging donors in their portfolio so that when it’s time to make an ask, it feels natural and personal. Across 12 higher education partner institutions, VEOs supported Giving Day efforts by leveraging the connections they were already building. They held real conversations, elevated the day’s momentum, and even thanked donors in real time when they confirmed gifts.

In this sample of Giving Days, here’s how the VEO performed:

• Total Raised: $309,293

• Total Gifts: 1,546

• Average Gift Size: $200

• Largest Gift: $8,000

• LYBUNT giving: $120,000

• Re-Engaged SYBUNT/Long-Lapsed/Non-Donors: 150

• Total Activities: 29,000 personal messages

At William & Mary, nearly 50% of the donors in the VEO’s portfolio made a gift. At Bucknell, it was 28%. The largest single gift, $8,000, came from a donor at VCU who had been receiving VEO communications for approximately 4 months. 56 of the re-engaged donors came from College of Charleston alone – significant because CofC’s VEO was one of the first to launch, emphasizing the importance of the long-term moves management strategy. 

Tying this all together wasn’t urgency, it was consistency. These VEOs didn’t run broad campaigns or chase clicks. As an already familiar channel of communication, they showed up with steady presence, informed by strategy and grounded in voice. They spoke directly to donors, with care. They didn’t replace the work of human fundraisers, they amplified it. In doing so, they made space for more people to feel part of something meaningful.

Giving Day has always been about more than raising dollars. It’s about rallying belief. It’s about reminding donors why they give, and who gives alongside them.

This Spring, VEOs helped our partners bring that spirit to life. They reminded us of a simple truth: when more donors feel seen and heard, more generosity follows.