Reflect, Review, and Recharge: A Look Back at 2024
As we once again head into the end of the year, for my fundraisers out there, it is full steam ahead.
But I also think it is important to reflect. We did SOO much this year. So don’t forget all that we learned. All that we shared. All that was experienced.
I say again and again, make a plan, work your plan. Well here was our plan for this year.
And want to talk about what’s next? Scroll to the bottom for where to go.
January 2024
🏋️ We reviewed the fundamentals of fundraising with renewed efforts to build stronger relationships with our donors.
🫶 We prioritized setting ourselves up for a successful fundraising year by setting reminders to steward our donors right away.
February 2024
🧭 We navigated how to start a capital campaign to ensure the campaign is a success.
🤠 We prepared for the unexpected gifts that might come to a nonprofit and prevent a real Wild West of gifts by reviewing why a gift acceptance policy is so important.
March 2024
🤔 We assessed what actually works to get your nonprofit board to be helpful in fundraising.
🔑 We unpacked why nonprofit boards of directors are actually so important and essential to your fundraising.
April 2024
🙏 We remembered our earlier plans from the year to steward our donors and enacted our plans.
🧏 We gossiped and gathered all the pertinent information needed to do our jobs.
❓ We asked our donors to give, explicitly, not just waiting for them to give.
May 2024
🎉 We reimagined why we do annual events and galas at nonprofits by ensuring there is a clear goal for each and every event.
📖 We shared powerful stories at our events that focused on what set our nonprofit apart from everyone else.
June 2024
🗣️ We talked to strangers to build and strengthen relationships with our donors.
July 2024
📊 We analyzed the data from the most recent Giving USA Report and committed ourselves to focus on planned and legacy giving.
August 2024
🏖️ We planned for the future all summer by better understanding why planned giving matters (especially now!), the most common types of gifts, how to steward committed donors, and so much more.
September 2024
👧 👨🦱 👵 We explored how the different generations of our donors think about their giving and how we can best steward them based on their preferences.
October 2024
🔎 We searched for our next nonprofit leaders as the Baby Boomer generation is retiring and is passing the torch onto the younger generations.
🎁 We wrapped up our year-end fundraising with successful strategies by asking for larger gifts and ensuring our messages stood out.
November 2024
📞 We focused our attention on what we CAN do to achieve our revenue goals even when there are distractions outside our control.
🧑🎄 We maximized our efforts during a busy holiday and year-end season to ensure our donors see our messages, and didn’t forget to reach out to lapsed donors.
December 2024
🧗♀️ We ARE doing all we can to hit our goals.
📑 We ARE preparing for 2025.
🧘♀️ We ARE taking the time and space to rest and recharge after a busy year.