I wasn’t so sure about 200k back in August when we first set the goal, but over time I’ve become more confident. It’s been a tough year economically, and early on, I realized the old ways of fundraising weren’t going to fly in the big 2, 5. Things that always worked in the past weren’t getting people motivated to shell out their money to charity, and I had to shift my way of thinking. Nothing could be generalized or overlooked anymore, especially for a beneficiary that will make such a difference with the money we raise. This charity ball season, myself and the rest of Big 5 have gotten creative with fundraising, and I’ve had fun doing it. After nights of combing through the Google Drive, analyzing past years’ work, we realized it’s all in the details. The work of fundraising for a charity is meticulous, and nothing can be done with half-hearted effort. I’ve learned not to just make a general slide deck for a presentation, but to consider your specific audience and cater to them. I’ve learned to read someone’s tone and understand whether or not they’d be more impacted by hearing about Note In the Pocket’s mission or by hearing our tax ID number (a little disheartening, but the reality). Putting time and energy into the details is how we will raise 200k, and I’m incredibly lucky to be fundraising for an organization I care enough to put those details into action for.