Fundraising Tip: Year-end Fundraising is Happening Now

If you haven’t begun, or even made a plan, start today.

For many nonprofits, most fundraising from individuals comes at the end of the year, in December. There’s even data that shows a good percentage of people make donations during the last three days of the year!

If you haven’t started your year-end fundraising yet, start today. Then, get a 2026 calendar and write “start year-end fundraising” on August 1st.

If you typically fundraise using direct mail, start writing copy. Then check with your printer and set a date for mailing. This part is important because you don’t want to wait with the printer and then they don’t have space for you.

As the copy is being written, take a look at your projected revenue for November and December. This is in your annual budget. Knowing how much you need to raise per the budget helps.

Now start your email plan. How many emails do you want to send between now and December 31st? Has an email on December 31st been successful in the past? Be specific with these emails regarding impact and need.

Lastly, phone calls. Starting in mid-December, have planned time for you and your team to call donors who gave last December. With everything going on in the world, a personal reminder is great.

Please remember that a successful year-end fundraising campaign comes after a year that includes a lot of donor relationship building.

Start today. Let me know if I can help.

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Take a risk. Be of service. Support your friends and colleagues. Be kind.

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