The Ultimate Guide To Year-End Giving For Nonprofits

September has graced us with its presence, and is the unofficial alarm clock for non-profits to kick their year-end fundraising efforts into high gear! The year-end giving season is your nonprofit’s final push to meet and exceed your financial goals before the start of next year. This is a popular time for charitable giving because supporters are motivated by the holiday spirit and because it’s the last opportunity for donors to submit tax-deductible gifts.

50% of nonprofits receive the majority of donations from October through December, so it’s critical that you have a plan in place to maximize your fundraising efforts during this time. The sooner you can get started with your year-end campaign planning, the better. This gives your team time to prepare and align on strategy and timelines.

You might not have experience creating a formal year-end giving strategy, or you may be looking to update your current strategy. Wherever you’re coming from, I've created a guide with 9 steps to help you make the most of the year-end giving season that includes the following tips:

Start planning early to give your team enough time to prepare a well-rounded, engaging campaign.
Assess past year-end giving results to determine your strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.
Craft a compelling case for support to tell donors why you need their help and what their donations will achieve.
Brand your year-end appeal to ensure all of your marketing materials reflect your organization’s brand or the specific campaign brand.
Segment your donors to create personalized outreach for all of your supporters without having to craft each message individually.
Create an outreach calendar to maintain your donor's attention and to ensure your team members understand their roles and when they need to complete certain tasks.
Optimize your website for year-end giving to make it as easy as possible for donors to find your donation page.
Show gratitude to year-end giving donors to turn them into year-round supporters of your organization
Analyze your success to determine how well your strategy played out

To access the complete guide click here.

If you're a non-profit feeling a bit overwhelmed or unsure about how to approach your year-end fundraising efforts, I'm here to help! Whether you need advice about the next steps, templates for crafting a compelling appeal letter, or a full-blown strategy session, I've got your back!

Don't hesitate to reach out to me if you need assistance, tips, or just someone to bounce ideas off of. Together, we can make this year-end fundraising season a success!