Year-end fundraising is like football season. The game isn’t won in the last two minutes—it’s decided by the plays you’ve been running since the first quarter. If you wait until December to get serious, you’re basically showing up at halftime and hoping for a miracle comeback. Spoiler: that’s not a winning strategy.
There’s a meme floating around the internet that says, “You’ll never feel ready because ready isn’t a feeling, it’s a decision.” At first glance, it’s the kind of line you scroll past, nodding vaguely as you reach for another cup of coffee. But for anyone leading a nonprofit into the busiest fundraising season of the year, it’s a truth bomb worth stopping for.
Because here’s the deal: waiting until you “feel ready” is a luxury that fall does not allow.
The Illusion of Inspiration
Nonprofit leaders love to talk about inspiration. We want to inspire donors, inspire volunteers, inspire communities. And of course, inspiration is powerful—it’s the spark that ignites generosity. But when it comes to our own work, inspiration is less reliable than the weather forecast on Labor Day weekend.
If you’re waiting for inspiration before making that donor call, finalizing that appeal, or sending that follow-up email, you may end up waiting yourself right into January with nothing to show for it. Inspiration is fickle. Action, on the other hand, creates momentum. And momentum is what carries campaigns across the finish line.
At DBD Group, one of our axioms is simple but game-changing: Have a Bias for Action. It’s the reminder that moving forward—even imperfectly—is better than waiting for the mythical “perfect” moment.
Why Action Builds Momentum
Think of your year-end campaign like pushing a sled. At first, it takes energy just to get the thing moving. Every push feels like a strain. But once it’s gliding, you’re not only covering ground—you’re also energized by the motion itself.
That’s how action works in fundraising. The first few calls might feel awkward. The first email draft might look rough. The first “no” might sting. But each step forward builds confidence, clarity, and traction. The act of doing creates its own energy.
Momentum matters because it compounds. Three donor calls lead to four, four lead to five, and suddenly you’re on a roll. One “yes” makes the next ask less intimidating. Draft one of your appeal might feel about as polished as the first football scrimmage of the season, but draft two is sharper, and draft three is ready to send.
It’s not just you who benefits. Donors sense urgency and confidence. Staff catch the energy of a leader who’s moving forward. Boards feel the pull of progress and are more likely to join in. Your action doesn’t just move your campaign forward—it creates a ripple effect that lifts your whole organization.
The inverse is also true: standing still drains you. Procrastination makes every task loom larger. The longer you wait, the heavier the sled feels—like it’s loaded with bricks and excuses.
So when in doubt, do something—anything—that breaks inertia. Action is the antidote to anxiety.
Timing Is Everything
Let’s be blunt: if you wait until December to start your year-end push, you’ve already missed the bus. By then, inboxes are flooded, calendars are packed, and your donors’ giving decisions may already be made.
The urgency isn’t later—it’s now.
- September and October are for planting seeds: donor visits, soft touches, thank-you calls, little nudges that prime generosity.
- November is the sprint: Giving Tuesday, appeals, social pushes, donor events.
- December is the finish line: targeted follow-ups, year-end asks, and thanking fast and often.
In other words: fall is when you lace up, set your pace, and build momentum. If you’re still “warming up” in December, you’re out of the race before it even begins.
Roadblocks Aren’t Stop Signs
Of course, action doesn’t mean blindly charging ahead. Roadblocks will come—donors who decline, emails that flop, last-minute staff changes. Too often, those roadblocks are treated as stop signs.
But a bias for action reframes roadblocks as invitations to creativity. Didn’t get a response to your email? Try a text or phone call. Donor hesitant because of timing? Invite them to coffee in January. Appeal underperforming? A/B test your subject line this afternoon.
The key is to treat challenges as opportunities to pivot, not excuses to pause. (Pro tip: “pivot” looks way better in your year-end report than “gave up.”)
Ready Is a Decision
Here’s where that meme comes back into play. “Ready” isn’t a mood. It’s a decision. Nobody wakes up thinking, Today, I suddenly feel emotionally prepared to ask someone for a $50,000 gift. More often, readiness looks like:
- Picking up the phone even though your palms are sweaty.
- Hitting “send” on that appeal even though you could edit it for three more hours.
- Walking into that meeting with a script, a story, and a smile—even if your inner critic is screaming louder than the marching band at homecoming.
If you decide you’re ready, you are. Period.
Practical Ways to Put “Bias for Action” into Play
- Shorten the distance between idea and execution.
Got a thought for a social post? Draft it now, post it this afternoon. Thinking about a donor to call? Put them on your calendar today. The quicker you move from idea to action, the more traction you’ll build. - Do the scariest thing first.
Call the biggest prospect before you dive into routine tasks. It builds confidence and makes everything else feel lighter. Plus, it keeps you from procrastinating the important work under a pile of “busy work.” - Celebrate micro-wins.
Every donor call, every pledge, every gift secured is fuel. Keep a running list of small victories so you—and your team—can see progress stacking up. Momentum loves company. - Default to “try.”
Not sure if an idea will work? Test it. Worst case, you learn something. Best case, you discover a new tactic for your toolbox. - Use accountability.
Share your goals with a teammate, your board chair, or even your dog if that’s all you’ve got. Saying it out loud makes it harder to back down.
Finish Strong
As we sprint toward December 31, remember this: you don’t need a perfect plan, flawless timing, or divine inspiration to succeed. You need a bias for action. You need the courage to do the next right thing—even if it’s messy, small, or scary.
Because action builds momentum. Momentum fuels inspiration. And momentum and inspiration together? That’s what drives year-end campaigns over the finish line.
So don’t wait to “feel ready.” Decide you’re ready. Then take a step. And another. And another. Before you know it, you’ll look back and realize: you didn’t just finish—you finished strong.
The year-end giving season is approaching, and success depends on preparation. This month, the DBD team will share tried-and-true strategies for maximizing your year-end campaigns, along with fresh approaches to help your nonprofit stand out in this busy quarter.
