The Top 3 Donor Actions to Close the Year Strong…
December can feel like a sprint and a juggling act all at once. But it’s also your single best window to bring in dollars, retain donors, and set yourself up for a strong start in the new year.
To help, we’ve pulled together a three-point list of “must-dos” for every nonprofit organization.
Be sure you’ve messaged all of your key donor segments by year-end…
At minimum, segment your year-end letters and emails. You don’t need 20 versions—but you do need a few smart ones. Be sure that at the very least, all your major, annual, recurring and LYBUNT donors have received a message during year-end. Keep the following in mind!
Major donors / VIPs
Personalize as much as possible.
Add a special touch: a short video message, handwritten card, or note from a student/participant you serve.
If you’re asking again, clearly connect this year’s impact to last year’s gift.
Current annual donors (have given this calendar year)
If they’ve already been hit with several appeals, consider a stewardship or impact update instead of another hard ask.
Language like “Because of you this year…” goes a long way.
LYBUNT donors (gave last year, but not yet this year)
This is your highest-opportunity segment.
Remind them of when they last gave and what that gift accomplished.
Use warm urgency: “There’s still time to renew your impact for this year.”
Recurring / monthly donors
Do not treat them like everyone else.
Send a summary of their impact for the year plus a small “sneak peek” into what’s ahead.
Make them feel like insiders: “Because you’re one of our most committed supporters…”
Recent donors (last 30–60 days)
Resist the urge to ask again immediately.
Prioritize gratitude and updates here.
A short “Here’s what your recent gift is already making possible” note can help cement loyalty.
One guiding rule: The organizations winning right now are the ones treating their annual fund as a movement, not a bucket. This is about creating a community of believers—people who can describe in their own words what you do and why it matters.
2. Double-check your GRATITUDE
One of the top reasons donors don’t come back? They don’t feel properly thanked after their gift.
Take 20–30 minutes and run through this quick audit:
When was the last time each major donor heard from you personally?
Did first-time donors this year receive anything beyond the automated receipt?
Have any donors gone more than 90 days without a human touch?
Then, choose a few simple follow-ups:
Ask a board member to make 3–5 thank-you calls.
Send a short, personal email to a lapsed major donor—no ask, just appreciation and a quick update.
Mail 10 handwritten notes this week to donors who quietly “kept the lights on” all year.
3. Start planning on how you’re going to show IMPACT in early 2026
Steal This Message 👇Because of you, 2025 was a year of real progress, real impact, and real hope.
Your generosity fueled meaningful change for the people and communities we serve, and we’re proud to share a snapshot of what you made possible:
[Insert #] people served through [program/service]
[Insert #] new opportunities created in [education/health/housing/arts/etc.]
[Insert #] programs expanded or strengthened
[Insert % or #] increase in [key outcome—graduation rates, meals provided, counseling hours, etc.]
Major milestone: [Insert achievement]
Behind every number is a story.
Because of supporters like you:
[Insert quick client story or transformation]
[Insert breakthrough or success moment]
Your support didn’t just sustain our work—it propelled it forward.
As we step into 2026, your partnership positions us to reach [upcoming goal], expand [priority area], and continue building solutions that create long-term change.
From all of us at [Organization Name]:
Thank you for believing in this mission. Thank you for powering this impact. Here’s to even more in 2026.
Happy planning. 🎉
