A Running Start
As June approaches, so does the end of the fiscal year for many nonprofits and institutions of higher education. And what a year it has been.
Next year is sure to bring new or expanded challenges, and it’s critical to start strong so you can build—and maintain—momentum in a demanding environment.
We recommend you assess and invest in the following so that you can hit the ground running in FY26.
Clarify Your Messaging
In a climate like this one, you must stand out from other philanthropic causes with messaging that illuminates your organization’s unique impact and compels donors to give.
If you have a solid long-term outlook, invest in a strong case for support. But, if the future is harder to predict, develop a messaging platform that will fuel fundraising for evergreen priorities but remain flexible enough to accommodate new developments.
With either of these in place, you will have baseline messaging that you can deploy across more specialized solicitation tools like slide decks, one-sheets, and proposals, as well as language that you can weave throughout your general communications.
Amplify Stewardship + Engagement
The biggest issue for many nonprofits isn’t necessarily finding donors; it’s hanging on to them.
We frequently develop communications plans to improve donor stewardship and engagement and have written on the topic extensively.
Think critically about how you’re creating a community for donors who support your organization and providing access not just to your team, but to each other.
You have the opportunity to make your nonprofit a haven for donors who are committed to positive change, and we encourage you to embrace it.
Improve Processes + Boost Collaboration
If you’re facing misfires or infighting between teams that need to collaborate—whether it’s development vs. communications or major gifts vs. donor relations—now is the time to intervene. All the strong messaging in the world won’t go far if it comes from a dysfunctional team.
We’ve previously recommended ways to improve collaboration, but this is an area where it may be necessary for a third party to come in to cut through existing tension and lay the groundwork for a fresh start.
If you’re not quite sure where to start, contact us to begin a confidential conversation. Our services address each of the areas above, and we take pride in setting up our partners for lasting success.
