An Amazing Opportunity to Raise Money for RESULTS Through a $30,000 Matching Grant

My mom always told me that generosity was special because it liberated us from the familiar territory of our own needs by opening our minds to the unexplained worlds occupied by the needs of others. Her words of wisdom have always followed me throughout my life, and they are especially meaningful and powerful for me during the holiday season.

With the new year rapidly approaching, I sit back and reflect on all the success RESULTS and our RESULTS partners have achieved. Together, we rallied to get 98 representatives — 22 percent of the House — to sign a letter, initiated by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), to President Obama calling on him to provide $1.75 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria in his fiscal year 2011 budget. Through our ACTION project, we were instrumental in the creation of the new Tuberculosis Reach Facility which works to identify and treat new cases of TB all over the world. With our partnership with the Global Campaign for Education, we successfully mobilized tens of thousands of citizens around the country in support of a global fund for education. And, all those living in or near poverty in this country will have coverage and access to health services in the House-passed health reform bill. These are just some of things we have accomplished this year, and we’re not through yet. . . .

A very generous donor to RESULTS Educational Fund has put out a matching challenge grant of $30,000 for our fall fundraising campaign. This is a dollar-for-dollar match. The two requirements are that donations have to be made to RESULTS Educational Fund in November or December and it needs to be new money. “New money” means it must be over and above the amount that you gave last year.

If you’ve already made your gift for this year, but want to take advantage of this match, you can. If you’re a monthly sponsor and you want to make an additional one-time gift now, we can apply it to this matching challenge. If you haven’t made a gift in 2009, it will apply as long as it is above last year’s gift. As long as it’s more than what you gave last year and it’s done between now and the end of the December, it qualifies!

For your friends, family, and colleagues — the same rules apply. So if you’ve never sent out a fundraising letter to your friends and family, this is a great time to offer them an amazing opportunity to make their money go farther.

PLEASE REMEMBER: If you make a donation for the challenge, please write “Matching Challenge Donation” in the memo line of the check and in the comments box on our online donation form.

The habit of giving only enhances the desire to give and there’s never been a better time to fundraise for RESULTS Educational Fund. Let’s take full advantage of the matching grant and not leave any of this money on the table. During this holiday season, let’s not forget that we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

Happy Holidays Everyone!