[NPFX Ep. 51] Tips for 2023 Year-End Fundraising (and How to Prepare for 2024)
Welcome to The Nonprofit Fundraising Exchange, a podcast from IPM Advancement. Our mission is to empower nonprofits to succeed so they can make the world a better place.
Today’s topic: Tips for 2023 Year-End Fundraising (and How to Prepare for 2024)
Given that 30% of annual giving happens in December, it's crucial for nonprofits to have a winning year-end fundraising strategy. Calendar year-end fundraising leverages end-of-year tax benefits to motivate donors to give, while also aligning with the holiday spirit when people are more inclined to be charitable. In today's podcast episode, the IPM Advancement team shares their best tips for CYE fundraising, including the importance of major donors, why direct mail still matters, how to navigate 2023 trends and challenges, re-engaging lapsed donors, the role of self-care in fundraising, how to strategize for 2024, and more.
Time-Stamped Episode Shortcuts
- Thank you for helping us reach 50 episodes! [1:04]
- Russ's tips: Year-end is the most important messaging opportunity for nonprofits, 2023 may be your last chance to engage lapsed COVID-era donors, small gifts matter [3:03]
- Rich's tips: Use AI tools to be more effective at your job, build community around your cause, take time for self-care and strategic thinking [4:42]
- Michele Rebeor: Make sure your year-end appeals connect with women donors [8:17]
- Samantha Timlick: Re-engage long-lapsed donors at year-end, an appeal letter followed by a stewardship mailing (like a newsletter) outperforms a single mailing, the importance of a wealth append for next year's strategic planning [9:53]
- Alan Knobloch: Prioritize the renewal of your major donors at year-end [14:05]
- Melissa Cowley Wolf: Strategize from a grounded place in times of uncertainty and crisis, listen to your audiences to inform donor cultivation, let those you serve tell their stories [17:56]
- Gina Parziale: Celebrate and share stories of impact at year-end, thank twice and ask once [23:22]
- Use direct mail and multi-channel messaging to stand out and connect with different donors [26:11]
Special Offer: Free 30-minute consultation for NPFX listeners
Additional Resources
- IPM's free Nonprofit Resource Library
- [NPFX] Engaging Women Philanthropists to Improve Donor Retention
- Best Wellness Practices for Nonprofit Fundraisers (#4 Might Surprise You)
- [NPFX] Nonprofit Fundraising at Year-End: 4 Things to Do
Subscribe to NPFX
IPM Advancement Consultant Contributors
Michele Rebeor is a founder of Synergy Philanthropy and an IPM Advancement consultant. Her work supporting nonprofit organizations focuses on building and maximizing donor relationships that result in greater levels of giving. Michele also has a rare expertise in effecting strategies that acknowledge the role and importance of women donors and their impact on the future of philanthropy.
Samantha Timlick is the VP of Client Services at IPM Advancement. Since 2007 she has managed renewal, appeal, and acquisition programs encompassing more than 200 million total recipients — focusing on highly segmented direct mail microtargeting, personalized inbound and outbound telemarketing, and integrated e-campaigns.
Alan Knobloch is a founder of Synergy Philanthropy and an IPM Advancement consultant. He has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years, holding positions at The Nature Conservancy Arizona, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation, and Valley of the Sun United Way.
Melissa Cowley Wolf is the founder of MCW Projects and an IPM Advancement consultant. Melissa has more than 20 years of experience in philanthropy, specializing in next era philanthropic strategy, and organizational and executive wellness for leaders and collectives who want to make an impact.
Gina Parziale is a Certified Fundraising Executive and IPM Advancement consultant. With 20 years of experience in leadership and development for patients advocacy and nonprofit health organizations, Gina provides strategic planning, fundraising planning and execution, Board and staff development, therapeutic advancement, and engagement with industry to patient advocacy groups.
Hosts
Russ Phaneuf, a co-founder of IPM Advancement, has a background in higher education development, with positions at the University of Hartford, Northern Arizona University, and Thunderbird School of Global Management. As IPM's managing director & chief strategist, Russ serves as lead fundraising strategist, award-winning content creator, and program analyst specializing in applied system dynamics.
Rich Frazier has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years. In his role as senior consultant with IPM Advancement, Rich offers extensive understanding and knowledge in major gifts program management, fund development, strategic planning, and board of directors development.