Oh, What A Year!
What a year, right?
I don’t know about you, but as the year ends, I tend to think back on what I’ve done.
What I’ve accomplished.
What milestones were reached (or not).
And also, how can I do better in the future.
This year, has been, well, a tough one. So many changes are happening in our society, and the nonprofit sector has so often had to be at the forefront.
When SNAP benefits went away, who had to help ensure people were fed?
When the fires raged across California and elsewhere, who had to help rebuild and house people?
When Antisemitism increased around the nation, where did people turn to for community and support?
Nonprofits are the backbone of society. We do so much each and every year.
Here at Sapphire Fundraising Specialists, we serve established nonprofits and help them to raise more money based on their actual needs, their actual staffing, and their actual systems.
It’s really easy to think about what we COULD have done or WANT to be able to do, but as we end this year, let’s focus on what’s actually possible. What’s actually achievable.
But first, let’s take a moment to look back.
January 2025
🌳 As baby boomers pass the torch of their unprecedented level of wealth, we explored the role of planned giving at your nonprofit.
February 2025
🫡 We learned how to engage your board of directors in fundraising that went beyond just asking for money (which they rarely did anyway).
👍 We focused on what board members CAN do when it comes to fundraising, not what they can’t (or won’t).
March 2025
🪤 We avoided the capital campaign trap by discovering the need to review our pipelines, bring our leadership into the conversations, and clean up our CRM.
🙅 We acknowledge that donors don’t care about budget codes.
April 2025
🫶 We remembered that fundraising is NOT a necessary evil, but actually a powerful force of change for a better world.
✅ We mastered the fundamentals of fundraising.
May 2025
📞 We strengthened our skillset to build donor relationships by phone, over zoom and in person.
June 2025
🏖️ We rested and reflected during a slower pace to consider what opportunities are out there.
🧔 We trained our Gen Z fundraisers to be more confident in their donor relationship building skills.
July 2025
➕ We discussed one of the biggest decisions nonprofit leaders face: When and How to bring in external expertise.
September 2025
💰 We reviewed the new tax law and implemented new tactics to ensure our end-of-year appeals reflected the new tax policy.
October 2025
🔁 We didn’t alter our message but kept playing our greatest hits.
📬 We considered the benefits of spending a lot of money on a direct mail piece to people who have never donated to us before.
🤖 We prioritized making a plan for year-end giving appeals that reflected changes from the new tax law and AI tools.
November 2025
👍 To gain new donors, we strived to be known, liked and trusted.
🔗 We double checked EVERY email link for our year-end appeals and messages.
🔮 We planned with our board for next year before we know what we might need to help us raise more money.
December 2025
🧗 We ARE doing all we can to hit our goals.
📑 We ARE preparing for 2026.
🧘♀️ We ARE taking the time and space to rest and recharge after a busy year.
So what’s next?
2026 will probably also continue to show challenges and new technology will bring continued change to our sector.
Want help discovering what’s possible, together? Let’s chat.