Don’t Wait for December: How to Plan Your Year-End Campaign Now

It happens every year. December sneaks up, Giving Tuesday hits hard, and suddenly everyone is scrambling to pull off a campaign. But year-end giving doesn’t have to be a mad dash. The strongest campaigns are thoughtful, mission-aligned, and start months before the holiday rush.

Main Points:

• Why October Matters:

  October is your prime window to plan messaging, build your donor calendar, and get board buy-in.

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• Components of a Strong Campaign: 

  • Compelling story 

  • Matching gift or milestone strategy 

  • Audience segmentation 

  • Follow-up and stewardship

• Engaging Your Board and Community:

  Use October to get folks excited about being ambassadors, not just donors.

  
  

• Avoiding the Last-Minute Scramble:

  Time-saving tools and planning checklists to ease stress in November and December.

  
  

Closing Takeaway:

Your year-end campaign should feel like a celebration of your work, not a panic. When you start early, you give yourself the gift of creativity, clarity, and confidence.

🎯 Need support designing a campaign that reflects your values and hits your goals? Let’s build it together.