Can you believe we’re already halfway through the year? If you’re like most nonprofit leaders, you kicked off the year with ambitious fundraising goals, detailed plans, and a whole lot of motivation to have “the best year yet!”
Now, with six months behind us, it's time to step back and ask: How are we really doing?
Remember, fundraising isn't just about year-end campaigns, online appeals, or event seasons; it’s a year-round effort that begins on day one of your new fiscal year. Taking time now to evaluate your progress can be the difference between scrambling in Q4 or finishing strong.
A mid-year review gives you a chance to:
- Assess the first six months of the year
- Identify gaps
- Re-engage and realign
- Plan ahead with purpose
Identify and Assess Successes and Shortfalls
As you begin your mid-year check in, consider these guiding questions:
- Are we pacing toward our annual fundraising goal?
Break down your revenue by source - individuals, grants, events, corporate sponsors. Are you on track in each area? Ahead in one and behind in another? - What’s working and what’s not?
Which appeals have performed well? Did your spring event meet its revenue goals? What campaigns or channels are falling flat and not performing as anticipated? Why is that? - Have we meaningfully engaged our donors?
Fundraising is relationship-building. How many new donors have been stewarded? Have major donors heard from you since Q1? Are thank-you processes timely and personal? - Do we need to adjust our strategy?
The plan you made in January was based on the best data you had then. But conditions may have changed. Does something need to change?
Realign and Reenergize
If you find you’re behind or off-course, don’t panic! You may not be able to change the past, but now is the perfect time to refocus and adjust for the future.
- Prioritize donor relationships
Make calls. Send handwritten notes. Invite key supporters for coffee. People give to people. - Use summer for storytelling
Highlight impact with real-life stories. Consider short videos, social media posts, or a mid-year impact report, which can be as simple as an e-letter from your Executive Director. - Host an impact visit
Have a programmatic event taking place this summer? Invite key donors for a lunch-and-learn event, followed by an opportunity to volunteer. Nothing is more impactful for a donor than to see their support in action. - Engage your board
Remind them of their role in fundraising and equip them with tools: an email template, social post, or list of prospects to call. Fundraising is not an individual sport, it takes a balanced team to find true, transformational success.
Plan Ahead with Purpose
Don’t wait until the end of August to begin your Q4 strategy. Start Planning Now.
- Personalize a stewardship strategy for your top 25 donors
- Identify and secure an end of year matching gift
- Update messaging that resonates with your community
- Segment DAF-eligible donors and building stronger relationships with fund advisors
Most importantly, set goals that reflect not just what you want to raise, but what you’re building for long-term health: trust, resilience, and community.
One Final Thought
The second half of the year is full of so much potential. Take what you’ve learned, trust what you know, and give yourself permission to shift. Fundraising is a long game, and this is just a checkpoint, not the finish line. You’ve got this!
Summer is the perfect time to step back, evaluate, and realign priorities. It is a perfect time to think through a purposeful reset of your fundraising and organizational strategies. Tips from the team at DBD Group will help you emerge energized and focused for the busy season ahead.
