It’s Not Too Late: How to Use the Final 10 Weeks to Hit Goal

Okay, so it’s crunch time. Maybe the fundraising went slower than you’d like this year (many organizations have seen downturns in donations), but now you’ve got the last sprint to make it to December 31st. How to make the most of it? A few tips to help you – and your team – stay in the game.  

• Don’t Panic, Plan: This is the time to plan for how you want to use the last weeks of the year. What did you want to get done that you haven’t? What will really move the needle? Meetings and coffees with your top donors will likely do more for your year-end than redesigning a website. Focus. Prioritize. Plan.  

• Connect with Your Programs: Program staff, success stories, compelling photographs, and on-the-ground visits can energize you and your staff for the final push. It can also provide the material you need to show your donors what they accomplish with their gifts. Don’t spend the last few weeks behind your desk in your office – you have to get out there to find the stories that will resonate with donors.  

• Cut out the Baloney: Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t have time for that,” or, “that’s not a priority right now.” Too much of our days can get taken up with low-return activities. Time to brutally manage your calendar, and your time. Put your energy into what works, and cut back on the other stuff.  

• Strategically Plan your Time Off: For you and your team, time away from the office to recharge is needed to be your best when you are working. It’s not a luxury. Work out vacation and day off schedules and make sure your team members know that even though it’s busy fourth quarter, being at your best is critical – and that means self-care.  

• ASK! Don’t forget to ask for gifts! That can get lost this time of year with all the stewardship, Giving Tuesday, holiday match, special fundraising events. Remember the first rule of fundraising: you don’t get what you don’t ask for.