The 9-Step Playbook to Boost Giving Season Donations
November 18, 2025 | 6 min read
A successful Giving Season can make or break a nonprofit’s success in the coming year. Typically, 30% of all charitable giving occurs in December, with 10% happening on the last three days of the year. Knowing that donors are more generous during this time, fundraisers need to ensure their strategies are in place to streamline efforts and achieve (or exceed!) fundraising goals. Fundraisers must be prepared for the most crucial fundraising time of the year to avoid missing out on any opportunities.
In 2025, donations increased 2.9% year-over-year, a strong indication that they will continue to rise in the coming months. This playbook offers proven strategies to capitalize on people’s increased generosity while building relationships with current and potential donors to cultivate a culture of giving that encourages year-round support.
Follow these 9 strategies to dominate this Giving Season:
- Review Last Year’s Plan and Results
The foundation of a new plan is based on the understanding of what worked well in the past and what must be improved. Review data and analytics from your CRM and giving platforms from the last Giving Season to fully grasp how effective your efforts were and exactly where improvement is needed. You must also evaluate the time dedicated to each initiative and determine whether the effort was worth the return. Optimize plans to ensure staff can both implement and facilitate while creating a seamless donation experience for donors. This data-driven approach establishes a solid foundation for updating and developing this year’s strategies. - Prioritize Recurring Giving Strategies.
Donors who rely on recurring giving methods have retention rates of nearly 70% and continue supporting nonprofits for over 8 years, compared to 1.5 years for non-recurring donors. These incredible stats underscore the importance of converting one-time donors to recurring givers. Fundraisers must promote recurring giving opportunities, such as workplace giving, to convert donors when they’re feeling the most generous. - Audit Giving Platforms
If your nonprofit has a presence on or receives donations from giving platforms, like Blackbaud Verified Network, you must review these platforms. Ensure you can log in, are signed up to receive automatic ACH transfers, and your profile reflects the most accurate and relevant information, including current priorities, progress toward your mission, etc. A strong presence on giving platforms is a valuable fundraising tool, especially during Giving Season, because most donors prefer to give online. If donors can’t find your nonprofit online, you will miss a lucrative donation opportunity. - Initiate Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
As I shared with Associated Press, about three out of five people volunteer with the nonprofits they donate to. Creating impactful and repeatable volunteer opportunities is essential to securing more donations during Giving Season from individuals who have seen your organization’s impact firsthand. Engaging and fun volunteer events create valuable opportunities to develop meaningful connections with potential donors and encourage them to become regular supporters. These events will also build a community of support and dedicated advocates for your cause. - Maximize Social Media Updates
Social media is a powerful tool you must use to connect with current and potential donors. Verify that all links and contact information are up to date. Use these platforms to advocate for your mission, showcase the benefits to the community, highlight the remaining work, and promote volunteer opportunities and donation options. Regularly posting is required to keep your nonprofit top of mind and in potential donors’ social media feeds, so they recognize your nonprofit, understand its value to the community, and are more inclined to donate. If your nonprofit doesn’t have much time to dedicate to social media, utilize free, generative AI tools to draft engaging content, which will save you valuable time during this critical period. - Collect Impactful Stories and Data
The ultimate way to encourage ongoing support is through storytelling and showcasing your direct impact on the communities you serve. Gathering this information must be done throughout the year to save time during Giving Season. Learn how your nonprofit impacted individuals and incorporate these inspiring stories and testimonials that highlight your transformative work will ensure audiences resonate with your mission on a personal level. - Implement Personalized Communication
Donors expect to receive messages tailored to their interest and their donation history. This can be time-consuming, but it is a critical part of stewardship in today’s landscape. Tailored and personalized emails and messages will encourage ongoing support from your dedicated followers. Short on time? Again, leverage free, generative AI tools to create a first draft of these communications, keeping donors engaged and connected with your cause. Always incorporate impactful stories and data to make these messages even more compelling and convincing. - Empower Your Team for Success
Your team is critical to your overall success and is the most important factor in a thriving Giving Season. Ensuring that everyone understands their roles, deadlines, goals, and how your team will work together is an imperative strategy for navigating the season effectively. Additionally, confirm that everyone has the necessary tools and support to implement these strategies. Creating a collaborative approach will empower your team and encourage them to think outside the box, and make a more significant impact than they thought possible. - Track and Analyze Data for Next Year
To ensure every Giving Season is more successful than the last, you must track your results and efforts to create a comprehensive playbook. This document will serve as the learning resource that you and your team build upon each year. Having a comprehensive overview of your plans will save time and help you raise more during the next Giving Season.
Proactive planning is crucial to ensuring your nonprofit maximizes the full potential of Giving Season. By reflecting on past successes, creating an internally collaborative culture, leveraging online platforms, establishing and supporting volunteer relationships, gathering and crafting compelling narratives, your organization will amplify its reach, inspire support, and drive meaningful change long into the new year.
Ready to amp up for Giving Season? Check out our other blogs about setting up and optimizing a free Blackbaud Verified Network account, making sure your organization is eligible for corporate matching gifts, how to incorporate community giving into your strategy, and more.
For more information about Blackbaud Verified Network or to sign up, visit https://nonprofit.yourcause.com/login/create-account.
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