Don’t Wait for the Fourth Quarter to Build Your Game Plan
It’s only August, but for nonprofits, now is the time to start thinking about the end game. That’s right, your end-of-year campaign shouldn’t be a fourth-quarter scramble. It should be a strategic, well-planned win that starts today.
Just like in any sport, the best results come when the team starts preparing early, building their plays and training for execution long before the final buzzer.
Why Early Planning Wins the Game
December is the biggest giving month of the year, accounting for 40% of online revenue. And 12% of that is coming in the last few days of the year. That’s not the moment to be figuring out your game plan—it’s the time to execute it.
Starting your EOY planning now allows your team to:
+ Refine your messaging: Tell a clear, compelling story about your impact and vision.
+ Segment your audiences: Personalize outreach for major donors, volunteers and new supporters to ensure your message is relevant to them.
+ Design with purpose: Create visuals and tools, such as appeal letters and social graphics, that align with your brand and inspire action.
+ Map the journey: Strategize touchpoints across channels—email, social, print and events—for maximum reach and resonance.
+ Build momentum: Start planting seeds with your audience so that when the giving season arrives, they’re ready to act.
EOY Success Isn’t a Buzzer-Beater— It’s Built Play by Play
We’ve walked alongside countless nonprofit teams through successful EOY campaigns— campaigns that exceeded goals, reactivated lapsed donors and invited new supporters. What do those wins have in common? Collaboration, strategy and TIME.
So if you’re thinking about your end-of-year campaign (and you should be), now’s the time to rally your team and build the playbook.
Don’t Run Out the Clock on Your Year-End Campaign
Your mission deserves more than a last-minute push. Getting an early start means your team can lead with clarity, tell your story with purpose and rally your community in a way that drives real impact.
Because championship campaigns aren’t built in a day—they’re built through preparation, teamwork and intentional strategy.
That’s why starting now matters. It gives you time to shape a message that resonates, coordinate with your team and engage your audience across every channel.
Give your mission the finish it deserves!