b'Changing CourseJESPY House embraces the challenge of virtual fundraisingBY SONYA KIMBLE-ELLISJESPY clients received certificates of achievement forsuccessfully completing a course for their mens group.S ince March of 2020, changing coursethey were planning an event to be delivered via videoto keep the pro-hasbeentheorderofthedayforrather than in person. Not only did JESPY quicklygrams,manyof many nonprofits. JESPY House wastransition from in-person services for clients to vir- themvirtualat no different. Once the pandemic hit,tual services, says JESPY Executive Director Audreythe time, in op-it had to quickly alter how to deliverWinkler, we also had to quickly adjust our fund- eration. services and conduct fundraising.raising event from in-person to virtual. This was newSinceJESPY On November 2 at 7 p.m., JESPYterritory for us, but essential to do, and I am pleasedalreadyhada willholditssecond VirtualFallFundraiser,Itsato share that our donors, clients and community re- presenceonso-JESPY Day. The South Orange-based organizationsponded enthusiastically. In todays world you reallycial media as well that supports adults with intellectual and develop- have to be extremely adaptable. asafullyfunc-mental disabilities, or I/DD (ages 18-73), is takingThankfully,JESPYalreadyhadfundraisingef- tioningwebsite, successful strategies learned last year during its firstfortsinplacebeforethepandemicthatincludedtheywereable online fundraiser and putting them to good use onceonline emailing, website landing pages, and mail- toeasilytransi-again.drivensolicitation.Recognizingtheextremeneedtiontovirtual Staff at JESPY learned that the challenge of cre- for donations, JESPYs supporters met the challengefundraising. And A JESPY client cleans and prepares atingengagingandimpactfulcontenttohostan not just for JESPYs annual fundraiser, but for sev- althoughitwasa table for customers at Panera effective fundraising program was magnified wheneral others that were conducted throughout the yearchallengingtoBread.feature story /55'