“Reach One to Inspire Hope” Campaign
Nearly Reaches Goal of Two Thousand Twenty New Donors
By Scott Dunwoody, Executive Director

As a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) passed in December 2017, many non-profits experienced a reduction in their donor base. Bethesda Mission saw a 10% reduction in the number of active donors as a direct result of this tax reform. While there were aspects of this tax reform that were positive, the effect of increasing the standard deduction resulted in many donors no longer itemizing charitable contributions and reducing their gifts to non-profits.

In September 2019, Bethesda Mission launched the campaign titled “Reach One to Inspire Hope!” This campaign’s theme has been about raising awareness for the impact this 106-year-old service organization has had on the Harrisburg area community, and in doing so, to hopefully realize new donors to replace those lost in 2018.

We asked our existing donors to identify one prospect in the coming year, through 2020, to share the vision and impact of Bethesda Mission and their reasons to support God’s amazing work reaching into the Harrisburg community one man, one woman, and one child at a time. Our goal was to acquire 2,020 new donors by December 22, 2020 — Bethesda’s 106th birthday!

Through December 31, 2020, new donors to this House of Mercy called Bethesda totaled 1,928, in the midst of the unprecedented challenges in the pandemic year of 2020. What an amazing God whom we serve in His power! This active donor base of nearly 10,000 strong is the lifeline, the fuel, through which the transforming power of Christ is shared in tangible ways with hurting men, women and kids.

You, our donors, have been prompted by a variety of impressions and motivations causing you to faithfully support God’s amazing work at Bethesda Mission. Consistently, the underlying theme for your giving of prayer, time and finances is seeing the hurting and hopeless find real hope.

Each day, in Jesus’ name, we offer these struggling individuals the opportunity to not only survive, but to thrive and to realize the possibility that their lives can experience real hope. We rejoice that this becomes a reality for many and we tell their stories of inspiration, of how they have discovered a loving God and a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe and Savior of the world.

This now becomes the motivation for our guests to rise from their dormitory beds (or mattresses), or from their homes as children attending our Community Center programs, or for our staff and volunteers, knowing that God has a plan for each one to experience His amazing grace and mercy, so freely given, yet so underserved.

You, our donors, are a rich blessing, and so we dedicate this article to the generosity of your finances, your time, and your prayers. Because you give, we receive the fuel for this ministry of 106 years to be successful in changing the course of hundreds of lives every year.

Our sincere and heartfelt thanks, for you are a treasure with everlasting impact!

P.S. Please keep sharing the vision and impact of this House of Mercy, Reaching One to Inspire Hope!