3 Steps to Year-End Fundraising Success

You can also be proactive, using information you have to encourage your donors to give before year-end. October is an ideal time to send a letter or email to people who gave in 2013 but haven't yet given in 2014. Remind them that there is still time to renew their support before the end of the year. For those who have given, thank them again and tell them how important a year-end gift from them is to your mission.

This old dog knows that I haven't written a single line here that is going to revolutionize fundraising for generations to come. But I have found that when fundraising works, it's often because someone took the time to do the "usual" just a little bit better. There's plenty of mediocre fundraising hitting our inboxes and mailboxes, not to mention calling us and talking to us face to face.

Be exceptional this year-end. Do what you do the best way possible. There's not all that much time until Dec. 31, so determine every day to be a better fundraiser than you were the day before. That's the best way to succeed in fundraising.