You did it! You grew a fundraising program that empowers donors to support your work during and far after Giving Tuesday. December 3 is officially over, but you’ll continue the grassroots momentum for the rest of giving season and beyond! So even though you’re keeping up the nonprofit fundraising, don’t forget to think about the nonprofit fundraiser (you!). Here are some steps for taking care of yourself during and after giving season, so you’re in a good place to foster this important work for the long term!
1. After Giving Tuesday: Some self-care for you, by you.
In these immediate days after Giving Tuesday, remember that your nonprofit’s work is a long fight for change! So while nonprofit fundraising often involves hustling to hit goals, it’s also important to take care of yourself in ways that work for you. This way you’re ready to meet any fundraising moment throughout the year.
We know self-care means different things to different people. Whatever it means to you, give yourself what you need to feel recharged and to take care of yourself!
2. When giving season winds down, celebrate:
Your achievements! Before giving season gets too far away, pat yourself on the back for the important groundwork you’re laying for sustained fundraising success in the new year. This is just the beginning: You’re ready to further nurture your community of supporters up the ladder of engagement and continue growing your program so any season can be your nonprofit’s giving season.
Your donors. As the year winds down, say thanks to the amazing supporters who gave to you throughout giving season! You can send an email dedicated to showing your gratitude for their end-of-year gifts and explain how their donations will be put to good use by your nonprofit next year. You can also recap and highlight some of your nonprofit’s achievements so far this year, made possible by the sustained generosity of donors like them!
Your team. Finally, express gratitude to your fellow organizers and colleagues! This work of change takes so many people, and you can show appreciation for their hard work and hours of care this past year. Say thank you at your team meeting, or better yet, write each team member a personalized thank you note! You can always take your team out for coffee or lunch, or you can bring the treats to your staff. Our nonprofit often hosts a hot chocolate bar – sprinkles, whipped cream, marshmallows, toppings galore — after busier moments for our work. It’s a delicious and low-lift treat for our team that makes us feel loved and appreciated when we need it most!
3. After the end of the year: Reflect and debrief (before jumping back in)
After giving season has come to a close, you’ll get back to your day-to-day and focus on continuing giving season momentum into the new year! But before you jump back in, take the time now to make time for the future. Janice Chan, from our friends at Wethos, wrote a guest post for us about pressing pause after heavy lifts like year-end fundraising to prevent burnout. As Janice says, you can take a necessary breather now and reflect on how to move work forward in the new year with more efficiency and a little less stress.
You’ve put energy into building a healthy fundraising program that will drive your cause for the long term — and it should be the same for you, the nonprofit fundraiser. Put some energy into making sure you have sustainable work processes that can support you this upcoming year, too! And rest assured that automation has been running on AB Charities this whole time to help you clean up after end-of-year, like our automatic gift receipts.
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Hooray! Along your journey to grassroots your Giving Tuesday, you started to grow a program that can fuel your work year-round and picked up digital strategies you can pull out any time to boost your fundraising. We’re excited to keep this momentum going with you, so here’s a big grassroots cheers from us to you!
