How Bloomerang modernized online giving and increased recurring gifts by 102%
Key Nonprofit Highlights
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver, Colorado provides essential services like housing, education, counseling, and emergency assistance to tens of thousands each year. They have been supporting and transforming lives for 98 years through programs such as Samaritan House, Marisol Services, and Early Childhood Education. The organization modernized their outdated fundraising processes by partnering with Bloomerang Fundraising. The platform provided customizable online donation forms, mobile and social fundraising tools, and seamless integration for various donation methods. This transformation led to over $1.15 million raised in online donations within the first year, a 102% increase in recurring gifts, and a 14.4% year-over-year growth in funds. Bloomerang’s user-friendly tools empowered the team to save time, enhance donor engagement, and focus on their mission, achieving extraordinary results.
Challenge
Updating manual processes with a modern fundraising platform
The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver faced significant hurdles in their fundraising efforts. Their methods were outdated and inefficient. The team relied on limited tools, including a basic PayPal form for online donations, while still manually entering credit card contributions received by phone or mail. This not only slowed their processes but also strained their small, dedicated fundraising team. “We did not have an online giving system set up. Everything was manual input,” explained Tricia Erickson of their Financial Analysis team.
Erickson and her team recognized the urgent need for a platform that could modernize their operations. They desired versatile tools that streamlined online giving and empowered them with innovative methods like mobile and social fundraising. The growing demand for a seamless donor experience and customizable features pushed them to transform their approach. “We were looking for something that could do more,” said Erickson.
Solution
Providing flexible giving options for every supporter
When Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver chose Bloomerang Fundraising as their partner, everything changed. With Bloomerang’s comprehensive suite of features, the nonprofit was able to implement intuitive, effective solutions almost immediately. Bloomerang provided customizable online donation forms, as well as powerful tools like text fundraising and peer-to-peer platforms. These transformed a labor-intensive fundraising process into something modern, efficient, and user-friendly.
For the Catholic Charities team, Bloomerang’s solutions didn’t just simplify processes—they empowered their resource department to work more effectively than ever before. “Bloomerang is easier for our resource department to use,” noted Erickson, appreciating how the system allowed them to shift focus from administrative tasks to driving impact through their mission. The updated technology also gave their donors flexible options to engage, whether through recurring gifts, one-time donations, or even check-based manual systems that the platform integrated seamlessly. The most immediate impact came through enhanced accessibility and operational efficiency. Bloomerang’s intuitive interface helped this small but passionate team launch fundraising campaigns that resonated deeply with their supporters while saving time and expanding their reach.
Results
Remarkable first-year results with Bloomerang Fundraising
The results of partnering with Bloomerang Fundraising were extraordinary and immediate. In just their first year on the platform, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver raised more than $1,158,000 in online donations alone—a remarkable testament to the effectiveness of the solution. Even more inspiring was the growth in recurring donations. The organization saw a 102% increase in sustained giving, with recurring contributions now accounting for over 30% of their monthly online donations. “We have some donors who still like to send in checks every month,” Erickson explained. “Others like to set up a credit card and make donations that way.” Bloomerang’s tools made it easy for both types of supporters to contribute seamlessly, boosting donor retention and long-term impact.
The organization also reported a 14.4% year-over-year increase in funds raised via Bloomerang, significantly outpacing the average growth rates in nonprofit online donations nationwide. The Catholic Charities fundraising team felt empowered to tackle bigger challenges and host impactful campaigns, thanks to the platform’s robust capabilities. With Bloomerang Fundraising as their trusted partner, the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Denver not only overcame their initial challenges but also redefined what was possible for their mission-driven organization.
