Your summer planning checklist
(Note: This is the second in a 4-part series helping your nonprofit make the most of summer.)
You know the feeling. Summer rolls in, budget season is over, and then next thing you know… September arrives faster than expected.
Suddenly, year-end fundraising is approaching, Giving Tuesday is on the horizon, and teams find themselves scrambling to create campaigns, gather stories, and finalize communications plans.
In my experience, the strongest organizations avoid this cycle. Instead of waiting for fall, they use the summer months to lay a foundation for success.
If your nonprofit wants stronger fundraising results and less stress later this year, here are seven priorities to address before September arrives.
1. Review First-Half Fundraising Performance
Start by examining the numbers.
Review:
Total revenue
Donor retention
New donor acquisition
Recurring donor growth
Campaign performance
Look beyond the raw totals, and identify patterns and trends that can inform future decisions.
2. Audit Your Donor Experience
Imagine you're a first-time supporter.
Visit your website. Attempt to make a donation. Subscribe to your email list.
How easy is the process?
Small friction points can reduce conversions and donor satisfaction.
3. Refresh Your Story Library
The best fundraising campaigns rely on compelling stories.
Now is the time to gather:
Beneficiary stories
Volunteer experiences
Program outcomes
Staff insights
Impact photography
Don't wait until November to start collecting content.
4. Evaluate Email Performance
Email remains one of the highest-performing nonprofit marketing channels.
Review:
Open rates
Click-through rates
Audience segmentation
Automation workflows
Strong email engagement today can significantly improve year-end fundraising results.
5. Strengthen Major Donor Relationships
Year-end gifts often begin with conversations months earlier. Take time now to Iidentify key supporters and schedule outreach during the summer.
Focus on listening rather than asking.
Relationship-building now can lead to stronger support later.
6. Build Your Fall Content Calendar
Develop a communications roadmap that includes:
Campaign launches
Impact stories
Giving Tuesday
Donor stewardship
Holiday messaging
Planning ahead reduces stress and improves consistency.
7. Begin Year-End Planning Now
Many organizations underestimate how much preparation successful fundraising requires.
By late summer, you should already be discussing:
Campaign themes
Story selection
Audience segmentation
Donor journeys
Communication schedules
The earlier planning begins, the stronger execution becomes.
Coming up in part 3: Learn how you can strengthen donor engagement and fundraising results during economic uncertainty through transparent communication, stewardship, and impact-focused storytelling.
The Organizations That Win in December Start in July
Strong fundraising isn't accidental. It's the result of thoughtful preparation, consistent communication, and intentional relationship-building.
If your team is feeling stretched thin or unsure where to focus, an outside perspective can often reveal opportunities that are easy to miss internally.
Click here and schedule a free 30-minute consultation with me. We'll discuss your organization's goals, identify opportunities, and provide practical recommendations you can implement right away.
Book your free consultation today and start building momentum for your strongest fundraising season yet.