By Jen Pendleton, vice president-Indiana, Aly Sterling Philanthropy

Fall is just beginning and now is the perfect time to take stock of your annual goals and progress to meeting them, as well as your plan and budget for 2019.

Why? Our friends at Bloomerang tell us that 50% of nonprofits receive a majority of their donations between October and December.

And taking stock in this year’s success is helpful for both year-end planning/adjustments and 2019 planning.

Are you ready to take full advantage of this opportunity? If so, keep reading for tips to help organizations at every level.

First steps first. Consider how 2018 is shaping up for your organization. Are you behind, meeting or exceeding your goals?

If you are behind on your fundraising goals, look at what your data is telling you. What is on track, what is off and how might you build on your strengths to finish 2018 strong?

• The best advice is to make sure that you have a compelling message (or case for support) that allows you to share your purpose and need with your donors and potential prospects.
• Determine who of your regular donors hasn’t given this year and develop strategies to reach out to them. You can even make courtesy calls to see how they are doing (or maybe introduce yourself for the first time, thank them) and let them know how much you appreciate their support. Then you can follow up later this year with a pledge form in the mail with a personal note attached to it!

If you are meeting your goals – excellent! But don’t let the opportunity stop there.

• Look at your year-end plans and make sure they still align with your objectives. Take the opportunity to widen your audience and test a segment that you haven’t before!

If you are exceeding your goals, make sure you thank the people responsible for helping you meet this amazing milestone! The relationship “ends” too often when we get the gift. For donors, the relationship is just beginning when they give the gift.

• This is a great time to ensure your stewardship and thanking protocols are in place. Are you telling your donors how their gifts are making a difference before asking again? If you develop this type of relationship with them, you will have these donors for life!

Considering widening your “ask” audience or doing an acquisition campaign at year-end too.

Other year-end checklist objectives include:

1. Ask your board committees and staff members to provide you with mid-year updates. How are things going? What are you most proud of? Where are the pain points? What help is needed?
2. Begin thinking now about board leadership changes and elections. It’s never too early to plan for leadership turnover and ensure you have strong people around the table.
3. Share mid-year findings with your board. Their job is to ensure the organization has the resources it needs to be successful, so it’s your job to keep them informed and primed to help.

I hope these tips have convinced you that it’s never too early to take stock of your fundraising efforts. And doing it now – before your organization is in crisis mode – allows for adjustments in strategies that will strengthen your fundraising program and bring in more money now and in the future.

Best of luck in all you do. Let me know how I can help!
Jen Pendleton