Year-end Countdown: 31 Fundraising Ideas To Ring In The New Year

'Tis the season! With year-end giving in full swing, now is the time not only to monitor results, but also to plan actively for the year ahead.

Below are 31 ideas to consider in December, as we close out one calendar year and prepare for the next.

The list offers a mix of quick tips for now and tasks that belong high on your "to do" list for 2026—all designed to improve your fundraising success.

December Countdown List

1. Clarify your year-end evaluation plan. What are your goals? How will you measure

success? How will you know if you're doing the right things in the right ways? How will you memorialize this year’s year-end campaign strategies, goals, and outcomes so you can plan

better for future years? And what are your contingency plans if year-end goals aren't met?

2. Thank your board members for their commitment to your work over the past year. Plant seeds for better partnership: lay out the exciting and essential work that lies ahead, and thank them in advance for their guidance and support.

3. Check all the giving pages and links on your website now. Make sure the information is current and the links still work!

4. Review the kick-back acknowledgments or e-mails in your system. Make sure they feel current and genuine. Refresh them now, if necessary. This stage is pivotal in any donor journey. Make it count—even the first, most basic "receipt for your records." And don't forget to follow up with a warmer, more thoughtful thank you letter without any reference to actual dollars. You need both.

5. Remember your planned giving donors. They’re often overlooked during this season when we’re laser focused on cash. But they’ve made a profound, generational decision with their planned gift. Make them feel like family, especially at this time of year.

6. Reach out to your vendors, especially the ones that “go the extra mile” for your organization. That "extra" is a valuable gift!

7. Remind everyone on your team about stock giving. Information and instructions for donors should already be on your website. We’re all more socially active this month, and inquiries about making stock gifts can come anytime, from anywhere!

8. Find someone who addresses a leadership or management issue that matters to you. (Among my favorites: Cheryl Strauss Einhorn for decision-making, Donald Miller for storytelling, and Seth Godin for all things marketing.) Subscribe to their newsletter or follow them on LinkedIn. Broaden your horizons and access ideas and insights from outside our sector.

9. Expand your network as you’re out and about during the holidays. Think about people you meet who might be good resources for you. Think beyond fundraising. Who has experience, insights, networks, or ideas that might be beneficial to you and your team? Follow-up conversations can lead to new ideas and open doors.

10. Stand out from the AI crowd! This January, create short thank-you videos from board and staff to share with your year-end donors. They're fun, engaging, and easy to do! Plus, they help to create real connections, beyond pro forma communications.

11.Consider a fireworks approach when it comes to stewardship. Take a core message of impacts or outcomes and re-purpose it as appropriate for different digital channels. (Economize your work and amplify your messaging!)

12. Elevate your stewardship even further. Take this core messaging and add special thank-you touches for each segment of your donor audience. Explain why their particular type of giving matters to you. None of this needs to be long or complicated. Just be genuine. Donor segments to consider: annual givers, first-time givers, upgraded givers, monthly givers, major givers, planned givers, sponsors, grantors, volunteers, in-kind givers.

13. Think about how you capture and warehouse your resources: photos, video clips, and other brand assets. Can you simplify this so it's easier to find what you need? In addition, identify gaps or missing assets so you continue to build out what you need.

14. Make donor retention your top priority for 2026. It's essential for sustainability. Plan to make a plan.

15. Huddle with your team for a mid-month check-in. Ask them how things are going, and thank them

for their fortitude as we close out a challenging year!

16. Confront AI head on. Plan for strategic discussions next year about options available and what makes sense for your needs. Ask your staff to think about this issue over the holidays. Have open discussions about pros and cons. Forget FOMO! Be judicious about what’s applicable to your needs, cost-benefit issues, and ROI. Key question: How does this make our work better?

17. Recall that the final three days of December are always critical. Approximately 10% of all giving occurs during this three-day period. Make sure you have your sprint plan in place (e.g., quick, upbeat giving reminders via e-mail and social channels, clarity about team responsibilities etc.)

18. Verify your top fundraising goals for the new calendar year. Three is good, no more than five. Things everyone can remember and rally around, that are do-able, that can really move the needle.

19. Check in with your program and business teams if you have grants. Make sure grant-funded work and grant expensing are going according to plan. If not, decide if/when to touch base with program officers from granting organizations in the new year to discuss any adjustments—and secure agreement about any changes in writing.

20. Touch base with staff members individually. Ask how things are going as you close out the calendar year. Listen. Share that you’re grateful for their work. Encourage them to enjoy their upcoming time off. And commit to addressing challenges together in the new year.

21. Socialize with your team. If you need time to plan, announce this now for a time early in the new year. If you’re on-site, do this with food! If you’re virtual, ask what would be fun to do online. Competitions or gamified experiences are popular these days!

22. Schedule time early in the new year to brainstorm innovative or experimental fundraising ideas based on your year-end results. Equally important: confirm where a "steady hand on the rudder" is necessary to make FY goals.

23. Revisit the core messaging you use for executive summaries in grant proposals. Make sure it's current. It should convey how your work is relevant to society today and addresses pressing community needs. Refresh anything outdated early in the new year.

24.Take time to reflect. Be grateful for staff, board, and donors who care about your cause and your community.

25. Repeat.

26. Look at event sponsorship materials with a fresh eye. Maybe from home or a favorite coffee shop. Are they energetic and inspiring? Do they excite you and make you want to learn more? Remember that most corporations operate on a calendar-year basis. Now is a good time to update sponsorship marketing for the next round of discussions.

27. Audit your website's About Us page. Are your board members identified with names, professional references, brief bios, and photos? This task often sits on the back burner. Make it a priority for the new year, since community members look to see who is on your board. The same holds true for your Staff page.

28. Assess how your website shares critical financial information. As with #27, financials should be current on your website. This includes your most recent IRS 990, audited financial statements, and those familiar “revenue/expense” pie charts. Include a short passage that explains your financials in everyday language, with thanks to donors for their support. Charity watchdog groups and donors of all stripes look for this as a sign of transparency. Donors want to understand how they fit into your world.

29. Check inone final time with your fundraisers. Make sure things are going smoothly, and

help to address any glitches.

30. Resolveto tell more stories. No one tires of hearing about the real-life impacts and outcomes of your work. Weave more stories into your existing communications. Don’t forget to integrate staff and board stories into the mix. Ask them to share why they do what they do, and why they’re grateful that generous community members are there to help

31. Celebrateeverything you’ve accomplished in a tough year. Then rest up for the year ahead!