YMCA of the Rockies, the largest YMCA camp and conference center in the world, serves over 210,000 people annually across 5,800 acres nestled in Rocky Mountain National Park. With a century-long history of fostering connection with nature, others, and oneself, YMCA of the Rockies recognized the growing need to address modern crises of isolation and loneliness. To further their mission, they launched the "Climbing Higher" campaign, a $50 million initiative—the most ambitious in their 118-year history.
YMCA of the Rockies relied on an annual stewardship banquet, driven by mid-level contributions rather than deeply engaged relationships with major donors. As they embarked on their comprehensive campaign, they sought to transform their thank-you event into an elevated donor experience capable of securing significant support from high-capacity donors.
Understanding the critical need for a compelling, high-impact event, Westfall Gold provided a full suite of major donor weekend services—customized for a single evening. This included:
View a portion of the creative style guide for the event focused on building the look.
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The gala exceeded expectations, $10 million was raised by the end of 2024 as a result of the July event and efforts that followed. More importantly, the event fostered deeper connections with major donors, igniting their vision for how their investments could sustain and transform this mountaintop sanctuary for generations to come.
YMCA of the Rockies successfully elevated their annual thank-you event into an inspiring, mission-driven experience. By partnering with Westfall Gold, they unlocked the full potential of their donor community, propelling their "Climbing Higher" campaign toward unprecedented success.
"It has been a wonderful experience collaborating with the Westfall Gold team. They not only elevated our annual event to drive strategic results but also enhanced key aspects of our entire philanthropy program, modeling effective systems for our staff and a more engaging experience for our valued supporters."
- Chelsea Thompson | Philanthropy Communications and Impact Director, YMCA of the Rockies