Today's DAR
DAR launched a campaign to register 10,000 Sustaining Supporters before Congress 2025 to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Sustaining Supporter Program, our monthly giving initiative.
With three months to go, we are 1,193 Sustaining Supporters shy of our goal. If you are not yet a Sustaining Supporter, you can help us get one step closer right now while also advancing your state or chapter in the competition to register Sustainers and receive special recognition during Congress. Simply click here to join the program—you can start for as little as $5 per month. And if you are curious where your state or chapter stands, visit dar.org/statestats to find out!
While there is still work to do, we have plenty of time to reach our goal, especially as we enter conference season. As Daughters gather this spring, we have an opportunity to gain momentum with the right strategies in place.
3 Strategies for Your State or Chapter to Win the Sustaining Supporter Competition and Receive Special Recognition during Congress
Fortunately, we have great models to follow. Below are three winning strategies Daughters employed last conference season to quickly register large numbers of Sustainers. Please feel free to borrow these ideas—or let them inspire your own— as we work together to reach our goal.
1. Build Excitement and Enthusiasm.
Donna Weaver, National Chair, Development (Wyoming): “Excitement and enthusiasm helped promote Sustaining Supporters at the Wyoming State Conference, as they embraced ‘Cowboy Up’ for DAR. We used pink cowboy hat cut outs to record the donor’s National Number and name and then had them put ‘a drop in the bucket’ for a chance to win an Insignia gift card on the last day of Conference.”
2. Foster Friendly Competition.
Susan Broderick, Honorary State Regent (California): “California Daughters love a challenge! Learning that another state holding their fall meetings the same weekend as ours challenged us to a competition to see who gained the most sustaining supporters over the weekend, and it was 'game on!’ Announcing that several of our C.A.R. members attending our fall meeting were pledging their allowance monies to become Sustaining Supporters also helped motivate Daughters as well. Inspiring new and existing members by sharing DAR's philanthropic accomplishments remains a joyous mission for this Daughter and Development Committee member!"
3. Set a Goal and be Persistent.
Jan Doherty Nelson, Honorary State Regent, State Sustaining Supporter Giving Chair, (Washington State Society): “One of the greatest blessings of being a DAR member is the friends you make along the way. At our last Washington State Conference, a team from the Development Office was in attendance and encouraged us to join the Sustaining Supporter Program. When I saw how close Washington State was to the top of the rankings for states with highest percentage of Sustaining Supporters, I decided to see if we could make it all the way to the top. My State Regent kindly allowed me to make an announcement at every break. I suppose I teasingly harassed us into first place.
“Unfortunately, we lost the top spot to the second-place state shortly after our Conference. I still have a goal to make Washington State number one, but I would be happy for some competition. Sustaining Supporters are like tiny drops of water. Together we can make a mighty Columbia River. If you can afford to be in DAR, you can afford to be a sustained giver. Ask me how!”
10-year Anniversary Charm Available for Limited Time
In addition to these great strategies, here’s another incentive to help you recruit new Sustaining Supporters: a brand-new commemorative charm! All Sustaining Supporters participating in May and June 2025 will receive a 10-year anniversary charm as a thank you for their involvement. After Congress, this limited-edition charm will be retired—so be sure to mention it when encouraging attendees to join!
Of course, this campaign is not just about reaching a goal or adding a beautiful new charm to your collection. Sustaining Supporters are the heartbeat of DAR. They provide a steady source of funding on a monthly basis for our National Society, ensuring that DAR can continue its mission of historic preservation, education and patriotism. The more Sustainers we register, the more stable we become—and the greater impact we can have.
So now you know the goal, where we stand and the strategies for success. You even have a little incentive to offer your potential recruits. Now, it’s all about execution—We can’t wait to see the results!
We hope you enjoy visiting with your fellow Daughters in Service and Friendship this conference season. And thank you, as always, for your support!
