The final days of the year aren’t just a countdown—they’re your nonprofit’s biggest opportunity to create lasting impact. With so much happening, it can feel like there’s not enough time left to make a difference—but it’s not too late! In fact, the final days of the year can be some of the most crucial for year-end fundraising. Did you know that 12% of all giving happens in the last three days of the year, and 31% of all donations are made in December? With the right strategies, your nonprofit can maximize this important time. Here are some last-minute tips to help boost your year-end fundraising efforts and finish the year strong.
5 Last-Minute Tips for Year-End Fundraising
Here are five fast, practical strategies you can put into action immediately to strengthen your year-end results.
1. Personalize Outreach to Major Gift Donors
Send a personalized letter or email recapping your organization’s accomplishments over the year, emphasizing how donors’ support made those achievements possible. Highlight specific projects or programs and the tangible outcomes they enabled. Even a short phone call or handwritten note can make a major difference. Share plans for the upcoming year and explain how their continued support will help achieve your mission. Small gestures like these often encourage donors to give again.
Simple enhancements you can layer in without additional effort:
- Quick enhancement idea: Add one sentence that connects the donor’s impact to a real outcome. Ex: “Your generosity helped provide 142 families with emergency support this year—thank you for making this possible.”
- Fast action: A 90-second voice memo or 20-second thank-you video recorded on your phone can feel incredibly personal—and can be sent today.
2. Activate Your Digital Channels Quickly
Use your website, email, and social media to engage donors immediately. Send a compelling email appeal emphasizing the urgent need for donations before year-end. Share impactful stories, photos, or videos on social media and encourage supporters to donate directly through your website. Multi-channel appeals increase engagement and remind supporters in different ways that their contribution matters now. Even a single targeted post or email can generate dozens of last-minute donations when paired with a clear call-to-action. Consider creating a countdown to the year’s end to show donors how much impact their gift can make today.
Small, optional additions that fit naturally and take minutes:
- A simple 48-hour countdown banner on your website
- A brief Instagram/Facebook story featuring a donor impact example
- A “Finish the Year Strong” email subject line for urgency
These require no new content—they repurpose what you already have.
3. Show Donors the Impact of Their Gifts
Highlight exactly how donations have made a difference this year. Share program outcomes, milestones, or real-world stories that illustrate results. For example, show how a $50 donation provided school supplies for five children, or how volunteers’ contributions improved services in the community. Short recap emails, social posts, or brief videos help donors see the tangible results of their generosity—and motivate them to give again before year-end. Donors are more motivated to give when they see the immediate impact of their gift and feel their contribution matters before the year closes.
Small improvement you can add: Include one very specific example from your programs to make the impact even more concrete for donors.
4. Reconnect With Last-Year Donors (LYBNT)
Target donors who gave last year but haven’t contributed this year. Thank them for past support, ask for feedback, and remind them they can still make a year-end gift. Understanding their concerns may help rebuild relationships, and even a small gesture of recognition can encourage renewed engagement. Past donors who receive a personalized message are 20–30% more likely to give again.
Simple addition for stronger framing: “We couldn’t have accomplished this work last year without you.”
This gratitude-first approach positions the outreach as appreciation—not pressure.
5. Mobilize Your Board for Year-End Giving
Have reflective conversations with Board members about why they give and what excites them most about serving. Ask if any Board members are willing to make an additional year-end gift to support future goals, and encourage them to share the message with their networks. Board engagement not only generates contributions but also inspires confidence and action among other supporters. Board members sharing your year-end appeal with their networks can double your reach in the final days.
One optional, easy enhancement – Give Board members a copy/paste message they can share: “I support this mission because the work matters. If you’re able, please join me with a year-end gift today—every gift strengthens our impact.”
Even implementing one or two of these strategies can help your nonprofit finish the year strong.
Take Action on Your Year-End Fundraising
No matter where your nonprofit stands with year-end fundraising, it’s never too late to make a meaningful difference. Whether reaching out to key donors, leveraging the holiday spirit, or connecting with your Board, each small effort moves your mission forward. Even in these final days, every step you take brings your organization closer to achieving its goals, funding critical programs, and setting the stage for even greater success in the year ahead. There’s still time to make meaningful progress before the year ends. Even small steps today can create big results for your mission and set the tone for next year.
Need help finalizing your year-end fundraising strategy? Our team is ready to provide personalized guidance and support so you can make the most of these final days—and finish the year stronger than ever. Don’t wait—contact our team today to turn your efforts into your most successful campaign yet!
