There is a lot of sobering news in the social impact sector as we wind down 2024. Donor numbers are down, we’re seeing staff reductions at nonprofits, and our heads are dizzy trying to keep up with AI and other tech innovations. This can all make planning for 2025 feel a bit daunting. Here are 8 simple things you can do in the coming weeks to set you up for success in 2025.  

1. Identify your most successful fundraising campaign of 2024 – and start planning now for how you will replicate, expand, and make it an even bigger success in 2025.
2. Upgrade your thank you messages! You will receive a lot of gifts in December. When January rolls around, go beyond your standard acknowledgment letter. Identify the donors who made a significant upgrade from their previous gift or renewed after being lapsed for a few years . . . take time to reach out to these folks with a phone call or handwritten note to let them know you noticed!
3. Invest in donor data. Do you know which donors on your file have a donor advised fund? What other organizations they support? Whether they have children? How old they are? If they own a yacht? Take steps now to invest in data intelligence so that you can start the new year ready to leverage those insights to maximize your fundraising success.
4. Increase your planned giving marketing budget NOW. With the massive generational transfer of wealth already underway, you can’t afford to keep planned giving on the back burner. Start the year by adding planned giving messaging across all communication channels. Make sure your donors hear from you consistently and know that you welcome these kinds of gifts. Bonus tip: develop a strategy to invite your Board members to leave a lasting gift.
5. Explore influencer marketing. Social media dominates the mindshare for many of your donors. Who are they listening to and following? Consider partnerships with influencers who have relevance to your mission to reach new audiences. Remember, you don’t need the influencers with the most followers, you need the ones whose story aligns with your followers.
6. Tell impactful stories. Good storytelling is about the HEAD and the HEART. Combine emotional storytelling with compelling fundraising case development to ignite generous giving at all levels of the donor pyramid.
7. Network! Make time to interact with the smartest people in your industry through association events and conferences. Think about the people in your network who always inspire you to think bigger and get time on their calendars.
8. Take care of your team. Burnout is real in our sector, and the hidden costs of staff turnover are exorbitant. Invest in professional development for your staff. Assess workloads and re-prioritize regularly. Take each employee to lunch – ask about their goals and solicit their ideas for a more successful new year.

Try out a few of these ideas and get ready to ace the new year!