4 Things Fundraisers Need to Focus On Right Now

Before we know it, we’ll be saying “Happy New Year!” and the last quarter of 2015 and the holidays will be a blur. Here are four things fundraisers need to focus on and plan for this week in order for 2015 to be a banner year of philanthropic support for your worthy mission:

1. Year-end Appeal. Be sure plans are in place for your year-end appeal. This should be mailed before Thanksgiving. Segment it appropriately and use direct mail, email, social media, phone calls and even personal visits, but provide donors thinking of year-end giving a reminder of what they can do through a gift to support your mission.

2. Thanksgiving. There is no better time to reach out to donors and remind them of the impact they make and how important they are. Whether it is a postcard, Thanksgiving e-card, Thanksgiving card with a personally signed message, phone call, visit or a combination of these, have this ready to go.

3. Giving Tuesday. Dec. 1 is Giving Tuesday. Your donors will hear a lot from other organizations about it. Be sure that your organization is in the mix.

4. Lapsed Donors. Today, if you have not already, run a list of lapsed donors for this year. Focus on your major donors, whatever that means for you. Develop a plan and allocate the time to reach out to them in the most effective and efficient way possible. Don’t let them slip away. We all know the value of donor retention.

Focus on these four things. Develop plans, implement them and celebrate great success!