You may think it’s too early to start thinking about Christmas, but that’s exactly what I want you to do. Yes, think about year-end giving starting right now… in July. Once September rolls around, it’s already too late.
6 Early Ways to Prepare for Year-End Giving
There are many things you can do NOW to increase your year-end results, so not doing them seems foolish. Here’s a list of 6 things you can start doing now to increase your year-end fundraising.
1. Thank your top donors.
Make a list of your top 20 donors. Call them and invite them to lunch to let them know how their most recent gift was used and to thank them in-person. Get this done by September 15th.
2. Be first to thank loyal donors.
Make a list of your loyal donors (anyone who has given any amount more than 2 years in a row). Commit to calling 2 donors per day between now and September so you beat the fall rush and are the first nonprofit to make an impression this giving season.
3. Test your online giving.
Make a gift online to your own organization to learn first-hand what your users experience. Fix any glitches or confusion they might encounter now, well before it becomes a problem.
4. Write your appeal letter early.
Start writing your appeal letter now. (And don’t forget to draft a follow up letter to those who don’t respond to your first appeal). Do not wait until September to write your letters. If you do, they will go out late.
5. Seek help from your board.
Ask board members how your board can help raise money at year end. Have a brainstorming session to see how many ways they can come up with to help. Add things to the list like:
- consider giving more themselves
- issue a challenge match
- sending appeal letters to friends
6. Try something new.
Don’t be afraid to try something new. Go ahead and plan something you’ve never tried before. Take a calculated risk, and go for it!
Start Today and Breathe Easy in the Fall
It’s never too early to plan to raise more money. And think of how much better you’ll feel in the fall when you’ve already begun working on your year-end giving in July. So don’t wait — get started today!
What will you do to start prepare for year-end giving? And what will you try that you’ve never done before? Let me know in the comments.
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