VolunteerHub
  • Platform
    VolunteerHub automates and streamlines, so you can concentrate on making a difference and driving your organization’s mission forward.
    • Platform Features
    VolunteerHub Overview Video
    Watch Overview 1:50
    • Volunteer Management
      • campaign Volunteer Recruitment
      • calendar_month Volunteer Scheduling
      • track_changes Volunteer Hour Tracking
      • storage Volunteer Database
      • paid Volunteer Fundraising
      • receipt_long Volunteer Liability Waivers
      • stars Rewards and Recognition
      • add_chart Reporting
    • Opportunity Management
      • vertical_split Landing Pages
      • task_alt Check-In
      • view_module Multi-Event Editor
      • move_up Configurable Forms
      • lan Group Organization
    • Volunteer Communication
      • mark_email_read Email Messaging
      • sms Text Messaging
      • share Social Media
    • Client Success
      • checklist Onboarding
      • school Training
  • Solutions
    VolunteerHub simplifies processes and removes friction for both coordinators and volunteers, saving your organization valuable time and resources.
    • Software Benefits
    VolunteerHub Overview Video
    Watch Overview 1:50
    • By Need
      • timer Save Time and Effort
      • extension Integrate with Existing Platforms
      • favorite Improve Volunteer Experience
      • show_chart Boost Volunteer Engagement
      • handshake Build Community Partnership
      • list_alt Consolidate Data Management
    • By Initiative
      • pets Animal Rights
      • music_note Arts and Culture
      • sports_football Athletics
      • bookmark Cause/Cure
      • forest Conservation
      • school Education
      • food_bank Food Banks
      • local_hospital Hospitals
      • attribution Human Rights
      • support Human Services
      • local_library Libraries
      • volunteer_activism Nonprofits
      • campaign Political Campaigns
      • account_balance Public Service
      • church Religious Organizations
  • Pricing
  • Resources
    VolunteerHub provides a bevy of resources to help you succeed in nonprofit and volunteer management.
    • All Resources
    VolunteerHub Overview Video
    Watch Overview 1:50
    • slow_motion_video Software Overview Video
    • menu_book The Book on Volunteer Management
    • format_quote Case Studies
    • rss_feed Blog
    • podcasts Podcast
    • upcoming Product Updates
  • About
    Over the last 20+ years, VolunteerHub has helped thousands of organizations manage billions of volunteer hours.
    • About VolunteerHub
    VolunteerHub Overview Video
    Watch Overview 1:50
    • groups Team
    • handshake Partners
    • work Careers
  • Support
  • Request Demo
Blog
Best Practices 3 min read

Year-End Fundraising: 3 Tips For Getting The Best Results

Eric Burger October 23, 2017
Share this
Getting the Most Out of Year-End Fundraising

Year-end fundraising is here! We are just a few short months away from the new year.

Did you know that 12% of annual giving occurs on the last three days of the year? What an amazing statistic! And a figure that emphasizes the importance of a year-end fundraising strategy. Fundraising efforts should be a year-round objective for your organization, but year-end appeal presents a unique opportunity to finish the fiscal period strong.

Believe it or not, most nonprofits (53.8%) begin planning their year-end fundraising during the month of October. What does this mean for you and your nonprofit? It means that if you have not begun to plan for year-end fundraising you are not too late. Your organization must begin to plan now.

You’re nonprofit still has time to create a strategic roadmap aimed toward year-end fundraising success. If you are not sure where to begin in developing a strategic plan for year-end fundraising here are three tips that can get your organization started.

Year-End Fundraising Tip #1: Make it Easy to Give

Making it easy to give sounds like an obvious strategy to increase fundraising success, but you would be surprised how many nonprofits have a tedious giving process.  Simplification of your nonprofit's donation request can make a detrimental impact.

It is also important to note that your organization should offer prospects multiple ways to give.  Offering prospects multiple avenues to give create’s a more personalized ask by incorporating preferences.

Here are a few additional tips for making the process of giving easier than ever for your prospects and current funders:

  • Create donation CTA’s across all digital collateral and limit the number of clicks required to get to the ask.
  • Make the process easy by providing clear instructions on ways to give.
  • Create a streamlined donation page on your nonprofit’s website.
  • Invest in fundraising software and integrate it with your website.
  • Understand what giving channels your supporters use the most.
  • Invest time in mobile and social giving strategies (Mobile fundraising continues to rise in adoption)
  • Do not forget about outbound fundraising strategies.
  • Think outside the box.

Year-End Fundraising Tip #2: Remember the Importance of Engagement

As a nonprofit one of your most important goals should be to build sustainable relationships with your funders and prospects.  Engaging donors can increase retention and make the year-end fundraising ask more successful.

Keep in mind that donor retention rate averages for nonprofits are relatively low. Retention rates for offline-only donors averages 29% and online-only donors are around 21%.

These statistics emphasize the need create a strategy around engagement.

In order to engage with donors and prospects your nonprofit needs to have a complete understanding of who your stakeholders are and what drives them to donate.  There are many ways that your nonprofit can increase engagement with your donors and prospects.  Here are a few tips:

  • Host fundraising and networking events to get to know stakeholders on a personal level (this can help your organization understand motivations)
  • Use donor database software (Nonprofit CRM) to create personalized communications with donors and prospects.
  • Encourage donors to become more involved in the organization and leverage their insights (this creates brand champions).
  • Convert volunteers to donors and vice versa.
  • Encourage peer-to-peer fundraising to leverage your donor’s network.
  • Develop a rewards system that encourages and acknowledges donors.
  • Be genuine and say thank you.

Year-End Fundraising Tip #3: Keep Your Donors in the Loop on Progress

Keeping your donors in the loop regarding the progress your nonprofit is making toward its mission is essential.  Did you know that on average two-thirds of donors do not do any research on an organization before donating to them? The cause is what compels most people to donate not necessarily the nonprofit.

This in itself presents a great opportunity for organizations that can leverage communication to create that same emotional connection with their brand.  Communication creates transparency which in turn builds trust.  Building trust can turn a donor into a lifetime supporter and increase their donation life cycle.

Here are a few ways to keep your donors and prospects in the loop:

  • Thank your current supporters often.
  • Provide weekly, monthly, and yearly fundraising updates (this may compel a donor to increase gifts).
  • Connect with your donors on social media and encourage them to share your updates and consume your content.
  • Ask your funders and prospects questions and create conversation.
  • Provide your funders photos of your mission in action so they can see the good their gifts are creating. (creates more emotional connection)
  • Send your donors handwritten thank you notes for their financial contributions.

Takeaways

If your nonprofit has not prepared for your year-end fundraising efforts do not panic you still have a little time! Make sure to make the process of donating easy for your funders and prospects, encourage engagement, and keep your stakeholders in the loop in terms of progress toward your mission.

Now is a great time to drive in prospects and continue to convert donors to brand champions.

  Check Out Our Additional Resources VolunteerHub provides a bevy of resources to help you succeed in volunteer recruitment, engagement, and management.       


Topics Discussed

  • Best Practices

Related Posts

2 min read 20 Giving Tuesday Statistics Your Nonprofit Should Know
20 Giving Tuesday Statistics
3 min read 4 Challenges that Large Nonprofit Organizations Often Face
illustration of a man jumping over a gap
3 min read Giving Tuesday: Tips to Reach Donors and Volunteers
#givingtuesday

Subscribe to Our Blog

Subscribe to receive email notifications every time we publish new insights, news, and thought leadership to our blog.

Subscribe Here!

symbol-full-color
Contact Us

877.482.3340

media@volunteerhub.com

  • Platform
  • Solutions
  • Pricing
  • Resources
  • About
  • Support
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Copyright Management
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • Vimeo
©2025 BetterGood. All rights reserved.