7 things that a nonprofit organization needs to consider this Giving Season
With Halloween out of the way, the Giving Season is right around the corner! For most nonprofit organizations, this upcoming time of year is when much of the donations for the next fiscal year are gathered.
31% of all annual giving occurs in December
12% of all year-end giving occurs in the last three days of December
52% of nonprofits begin planning for Giving Season in October
Because these months are so important, it is also important to manage them correctly!
1. Send those solicitation letters!
What’s the #1 thing fundraising professionals do wrong with it comes to raising funds? They don’t ask!
Solicitation letters are all about engaging donors, keeping them informed, and letting them feel and see the impact of their donation. The key to this for the Giving Season is to send out donation requests early and correctly. Most donors will not be inclined to give money until they know what your nonprofit organization is all about - so show them! Do some solicitation letter drafting with Nonprofit Marketing Nerds.
2. Engage your volunteers!
During Thanksgiving and Christmastime, everyone is looking for a way to help others. As a nonprofit organization, this means you are in luck! Enlist the help of volunteers to get some of your busy year-end work done.
If you’re a working professional, you’ve probably already got your hands full with running your organization and keeping your board members happy. Add on top of that your weekly family Christmas shopping trips and you’ve got yourself one overwhelmed executive director! Take some of those tasks out of your hands and give them to those who are excited to help!
3. Don’t forget about Giving Tuesday!
Every year, the first Tuesday following Thanksgiving is celebrated as Giving Tuesday. This is a day to kick off Giving Season and get donors involved in nonprofit organizations.
In 2023, over $3.1 billion was raised across the United States on Giving Tuesday. Don’t miss out on your chance to add to that number this December! Let your donor base know just how much their contributions matter online.
4. Try some new fundraising techniques!
Most nonprofit organizations are familiar with the traditional fundraising model - asking specific businesses for donations and awaiting responses. There are other ways to spread the word about your organization and its needs!
In peer-to-peer fundraising, established donors have the chance to help you reach more potential donors. Check out how to fundraise in new and exciting ways!
5. Mental health is key!
Taking the time to really enjoy the Giving Season makes it all the more rewarding to be a part of! Because this season is often a very hectic one for nonprofit organizations, it is important to remember good mental health practices.
Adding end-of-year stress to an already hard working nonprofit professional can seem like an unconquerable challenge to handle. A full time job, holiday responsibilities, and the winter blues can all take a toll on you. Slow down and focus on the “why” of what you’re doing. Make sure you learn how to stay sane this Giving Season!
6. Make way for online donations!
The whole world is going digital, and that should include your nonprofit organization as well! For many donors, donating online is the easiest and most efficient way to get it done.
While collecting donations online is important for nonprofits, it is even more important to ensure that you’re collecting them correctly! This Giving Season, try sprucing up your donation platform with a good online fundraising strategy. Learn all about the do’s and don’ts of online donation collecting!
7. Have a holly jolly holiday event!
What would the Giving Season be without a little bit of holiday cheer? Break up the hustle and bustle of this stressful season by throwing a holiday party or event for your nonprofit organization and its members.
This special event could be anything from a cozy Christmas get together to a grand winter outing. Having something special to look forward to this time of year brings back the joy to nonprofit work just when your organization needs it the most!
DO YOU NEED more information on how to make this giving season great? START HERE!
