🎯 AKA: How to Plan, Fundraise, and Spark Some Serious Joy All Year Long!
Let’s be honest — nonprofit life is a marathon, not a sprint. But who says you can’t have a little fun while leveling up your revenue streams? We’ve cooked up a month-by-month guide packed with goals and some fire #SparkSmartTips.
Quarter 1: Stewardship & Planning (January, February, March)
New year, new you… and a new chance to show funders and donors why you’re a big deal. Set clear goals so that funders put you at the top of their list! Start strong, set goals, and treat your donors like the MVPs they are.
We’ve outlined monthly goals to level up your impact in 2025.
January: New Year, New Goals
Goal: Set clear revenue and engagement targets for the year.
#SparkSmartTip: Host a strategy meeting with snacks (because snacks = ideas). Get everyone hyped about your goals and assign tasks before anyone can disappear for coffee. Outline goals for each funding source (donations, grants, events, etc.) and assign responsibilities. Update your case statement and revisit your fundraising plan to be sure you are including multiple touch points throughout the year that uplift and inspire your supporters.
February: Strengthen Donor Relationships
Goal: Make donors feel like the Beyoncé of your nonprofit.
#SparkSmartTip: Send personalized thank-you notes, videos, or impact reports to major donors and recurring contributors. Use Valentine’s Day to “share the love” with your donor base through social media campaigns or small tokens of appreciation.
March: “Money Moves” Month – Prospect New Funding Opportunities
Goal: Find those golden grant opportunities and potential big-time donors.
#SparkSmartTip: Conduct prospect research using tools like Foundation Directory Online, Instrumentl or GrantStation. Create a grants calendar with submission deadlines and required documents.
Quarter 2: Renewals and Cultivation (April, May, June)
Spring into action with fresh ideas and big events. You’ve got the momentum, so let’s make it bloom 🌸.
Don’t forget to keep track of your grant deadlines; new and current funders may have applications due this time, so use a project management tool like Asana to keep you on-track (there’s a free version!)!
April: Spring Cleaning, Nonprofit Style – Refresh Your Fundraising Materials
Goal: Update proposals, brochures, and your website to align with current goals and impact stories.
#SparkSmartTip: Think of your website and brochures like a dating profile — update them to highlight your best stories and photos. It’s a match!
May: Party with a Purpose – Engage Your Local Community and Donors
Goal: Strengthen relationships with local businesses and community partners.
#SparkSmartTip: Host a “Community Impact Day” or partner with a local business for a percentage-of-sales event. Use this time to network and introduce your nonprofit to potential supporters.
June: Mid-Year Bragging Rights – Impact Update
Goal: Share a mid-year report with donors and funders.
#SparkSmartTip: Use storytelling to highlight your progress. Include compelling visuals like charts, photos, or videos to demonstrate how donations have made a difference so far this year.
Quarter 3: Reenergize and Innovate (July, August, September)
Summertime fun is approaching, so things start to simmer down. Take time for your organization to recharge and plan for development of end of year giving campaigns. Use this time to brainstorm and channel your creativity with your board, partners, staff and supporters.
Is there a time in the summer when it’s easier for people to experience your mission? Consider holding a laid back event or an online challenge to encourage people to engage with you.
July: Plan a Peer-to-Peer Campaign
Goal: Launch a summer peer-to-peer fundraising campaign.
#SparkSmartTip: Encourage board members, staff, and volunteers to create fundraising pages and rally their networks. Offer incentives, like recognition or small prizes, for top fundraisers.
August: Plotting Season – Prepare for Year-End Fundraising
Goal: Develop your year-end fundraising strategy.
#SparkSmartTip Channel your inner strategist and map it all out. Vision boards optional but highly encouraged. Outline your holiday campaign plans, including goals, themes, and donor segmentation. If you’re tempted by Giving Tuesday, collaborate with your colleagues and board on other ways you could engage both existing and new donors with end-of-year gratitude and compelling stories of impact
September: Stewardship Month
Goal: Focus on donor retention and appreciation.
#SparkSmartTip: Host a donor appreciation event (virtual or in-person) to thank supporters and share impact stories. Recognize top contributors publicly through social media or newsletters.
Quarter 4: Finish Strong (October, November, December)
It’s the time of year when giving increases! Focus on your end-of-year opportunities as well as how you’ll stand out from the crowd that’s kicking their fundraising into high gear.
October: Grantoberfest – Focus on Grants
Goal: Submit all outstanding grant proposals and research new opportunities for 2025 like a pro.
#SparkSmartTip: Ensure your proposals are compelling by tailoring them to each funder’s priorities. Include strong data and a clear narrative about how their support will make an impact.
November: Boost Giving Momentum
Goal: Time to warm hearts and wallets. Maximize donor engagement in the lead-up to year-end campaigns.
#SparkSmartTip: Use gratitude-themed messaging leading up to Thanksgiving to thank supporters and encourage additional gifts. Run a matching gift challenge to inspire donors to give more.
December: Go Big or Go Home – Finish Strong with Year-End Appeals
Goal: Execute your year-end fundraising campaigns and thank every donor promptly.
#SparkSmartTip: Use urgency in your messaging to encourage last-minute donations (e.g., “Only X days left to make a tax-deductible gift!”). Highlight specific impact stories to show how contributions make a difference.
Year-Round Strategies for Sustainable Growth
While monthly and quarterly goals provide structure, sustainable fundraising success requires consistent effort throughout the year. These ongoing strategies will help your nonprofit maintain donor trust, build strong corporate partnerships, and stay organized for long-term impact.
- ✨ Stay donor-obsessed. Regular updates = happy supporters.
- ✨ Keep your data tight. Good records = fewer headaches.
- ✨ Partner like a pro. Collaborate with businesses that make you shine.
Need Support with Nonprofit Fundraising?
Need help staying focused or just looking for capacity support? Let Spark Point take your fundraising to the next level. Planning your year will help you have a consistent approach to your fundraising to produce sustainable results. Make sure to take advantage of key opportunities and to not miss them.