A feature in a wall calendar is the most popular prize on our platform for a few key reasons:
It's a "Priceless" Prize 💎
There is no fixed dollar value attached to this prize, which means donations won't be capped by what the prize is “worth.” The sky is literally the limit when it comes to fundraising potential.
Celebrity Status 🌟📷
Winners are displayed in homes, offices, and local businesses throughout your community for an entire year. This kind of visibility feels meaningful and well-earned.
Ongoing Connection 💞
A wall calendar proudly displayed in homes and offices keeps your winners and your mission visible in the community all year long.
All of those items add up to the perfect prize for donate-to-vote fundraising!
Thinking about what your calendar could look like, but not sure where to start?
There is no single “right” way to design a fundraising calendar, but seeing what has worked for others can help spark ideas for your own calendar.
Below are two organizations that take very different approaches: one community-inclusive and one high-end and professionally curated. Yet, both have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. Use their models as inspiration as you shape a calendar that fits your community and fundraising goals.
MetroWest Humane Society
MetroWest Humane Society in Ashland, MA has partnered with us for their annual Pet Calendar Photo Contest every year since 2018.
To date, they’ve raised $200,045, turning their contest and printed calendar into a loving celebration of both their supporters and their mission.
What makes it work?
✔️ They embrace every photo as submitted, making participants feel valued
Their layout is designed to accommodate vertical and uniquely sized images. There is usually a special reason why a donor chooses a specific photo when entering your contest and using it as-is, even if it’s an unusual size or lower quality, honors their effort and fundraising commitment.
|
click to enlarge |
✔️ They lead with impact
A “Happy Endings” page and a joyful adopter photo collage appear at the beginning of the calendar, immediately highlighting the life-changing work they do in their community. This strengthens the emotional connection between donors and their mission, which often translates into stronger giving.
|
click to enlarge |
click to enlarge |
✔️ Each winner gets a moment in the spotlight
Every month features a winning photo, paired with a thoughtful paragraph about the pet. By including an entry field for a “Pet Story or Bio,” participants can share their pet’s personality and journey, elevating the experience and giving winners true “celebrity status.”
|
click to enlarge |
✔️ The top fundraiser receives maximum visibility
The overall winning photo earns the cover and a featured month. Because the cover faces the wall when the calendar hangs open, this gives the top supporter extended recognition (a powerful incentive for competitive fundraising).
|
click to enlarge |
✔️ Inclusivity drives participation and calendar sales
Every entry that raises at least $10 is included somewhere in the calendar. Photos appear in open grid spaces around date blocks or in a collage on the final page. When more participants see their pets represented, they’re more likely to purchase and promote the calendar.
|
click to enlarge |
|
💰 Looking for an additional fundraising boost? Our Reserve-a-Spot module allows participants to reserve grid spaces or specific date blocks in exchange for a donation, which creates another simple way to increase revenue while enhancing the personalization of your calendar. |
St. Augustine Humane Society
St. Augustine Humane Society in St. Augustine, FL has been with us since the very first year of our platform (their first contest was #81!).
To date, they’ve raised $310,345 through their annual Pin Up Paws Calendar Contest. Each year features a new theme, transforming their calendar into a creative, high-end production that feels more like a collectible art piece than a traditional fundraiser (see some of their previous themes here).
What makes it work?
✔️ Every winner receives a professional photo shoot
Monthly winners are treated to a special session with world-renowned photographer Addison Fitzgerald. This elevates the prestige of winning a month in the calendar while ensuring consistently high-quality imagery throughout.
✔️ Each image is artistically transformed into a work of art
The photographs are reimagined by graphic designer Maribel Angel to align with that year’s theme, resulting in striking, museum-worthy portraits. This cohesive, artistic approach enhances the perceived value of the calendar, making it more desirable to purchase and share within the community.
|
click to enlarge |
✔️ Winners are celebrated with story and spotlight
Each monthly spread includes the themed portrait along with a personalized paragraph about the pet. By incorporating a “Pet Story or Bio” entry field, owners can share their pet’s personality and journey, enhancing the sense of recognition and giving winners a meaningful moment in the spotlight.
|
click to enlarge |
click to enlarge |
✔️ Their mission remains front and center
The inside cover shares the history of St. Augustine Humane Society and encourages participation in the next annual contest. This reinforces the organization’s impact while positioning the calendar as a cornerstone fundraiser for their community.
|
click to enlarge |
✔️ Inclusivity is still part of the design
Twelve runners up appear in 1 1/2 inch spaces throughout the calendar, and thumbnails of the top 80 fundraisers appear on a dedicated collage page. Including a broad group of participants fosters connection and increases the likelihood that supporters will purchase and share the calendar.
|
click to enlarge |
✔️ Community-wide visibility amplifies the experience
With 2,500 calendars printed and distributed throughout St. Augustine and surrounding areas, winners receive meaningful exposure. That level of visibility increases the prestige of winning and further fuels competitive fundraising.
💃 🪩 🕺 The calendar is revealed at a signature event
The annual Pin Up Paws Gala serves as the official unveiling. Winners are celebrated publicly, additional funds are raised, and the event has become an anticipated tradition within the St. Augustine community.
Lessons from both:
MetroWest Humane Society and St. Augustine Humane Society take very different approaches to their calendars, yet both have generated significant fundraising success.
MetroWest focuses on inclusivity and community connection. They celebrate photos as submitted, feature a broad group of participants, and ensure that many supporters see themselves reflected in the final product. The result is strong emotional buy-in and widespread calendar sales.
St. Augustine leans into prestige and artistic production. Professional photo shoots, themed portraits, and a gala reveal elevate the prize experience and create a sense of exclusivity. The result is intensified competition, higher fundraising motivation, and strong community visibility.
What matters most:
There is no single “right” way to structure your calendar.
The key is aligning your design with the experience you want to create for participants, while recognizing that visibility, recognition, and emotional connection are what ultimately drive donate-to-vote fundraising success.
Whether you choose a community-inclusive model, a high-end artistic approach, or something in between, your calendar can be more than just a prize. It can become a powerful annual fundraiser that supporters look forward to year after year!
|
⚠️ GoGo Photo Contest is the perfect online platform for running a calendar contest, but we do not offer calendar design, printing, or prize fulfillment (shipping) services. |