Boost Holiday Giving & Save Time: Nonprofit Fundraising Campaigns for the Giving Season
As the holiday giving season approaches, many nonprofits are gearing up for their most important fundraising campaigns of the year. For many organizations, the last quarter isn’t just busy — it’s when a significant portion of annual donations come in. That means planning ahead, getting creative, and making the most of your limited time and resources is more important than ever.
In a recent Q&A session hosted by The Good Growth Company, we explored practical strategies for high-impact holiday fundraising campaigns. From small organizations with only two staff members to larger nonprofits managing multiple programs, the conversation focused on how to create campaigns that resonate, stand out, and inspire donors.
Here are the top takeaways from Jazzmine Raine and Daniel Francavilla:
Top Takeaways
1. Start early, but focus your efforts
If you haven’t already started planning, don’t panic — but get intentional. Even late in the game, you can build momentum by identifying quick wins. For example:
Tie your outreach to key awareness dates in the fall.
Create a mini-campaign that rolls into GivingTuesday.
Focus on clear, time-based goals (e.g., “Help us reach X by year-end”).
The earlier you warm up your audience, the more engaged they’ll be by December.
2. Know who you’re talking to
Campaigns work best when they’re designed with a clear donor persona in mind. Rather than a generic “holiday appeal,” segment your audiences:
Parents or families who want to see impact in schools or youth programs.
Young professionals who grew up connected to your mission and are now ready to give back.
Community members passionate about issues like climate, health, or education.
Tailor your channel strategy (LinkedIn for professionals, Instagram for families, etc.) and speak directly to the motivations of each group.
3. Use storytelling as your superpower
Storytelling is the bridge between your mission and your donors’ values. Holiday campaigns should highlight:
Inspiring personal stories of impact.
Memorable community moments.
Tangible goals (e.g., “We want to expand from 300 schools to 500 by 2026”).
Simple, shareable stories (like asking supporters to share a memory of a teacher or a moment they were impacted by your cause) help create visibility and build trust.
4. Small teams can think big — by going deep
If you only have one or two staff, you don’t need to do it all. Instead:
Identify your “champions” — board members, volunteers, or loyal donors who will go the extra mile.
Equip them with peer-to-peer fundraising tools, ready-to-use templates, and tailored copy so they can rally their own networks.
Focus on deepening engagement with these champions rather than spreading yourself thin.
Peer-to-peer campaigns often outperform broad appeals because people trust their peers’ passion.
5. Make giving concrete
Donors want to know: “What will my gift accomplish?” The more specific, the better. For example:
“$50 provides supplies for a school garden.”
“$100 supports a family settling into their new community.”
“$500 helps us train 10 young leaders.”
Breaking donations into clear impact levels makes the ask more relatable — and encourages first-time donors.
6. Brand your campaign
Avoid “just another year-end appeal.” Give your campaign a theme or name that people can recognize and rally behind. Consistency across emails, social posts, and events helps create momentum and community ownership.
7. Don’t forget capacity and transparency
A growing number of younger donors want to know their support isn’t just fueling programs — it’s helping build resilient organizations. Being transparent about the need for staff, systems, and operations is not a weakness — it shows you value sustainable impact.
8. Leverage your community for ideas
If you’re stuck, ask your supporters. Invite them into the conversation: “Would you be excited to take part in X campaign?” This co-creation not only sparks fresh ideas but also deepens donor investment when the campaign launches.
What’s next?
The holiday season is one of the busiest and most competitive times for fundraising — but also one of the most rewarding. The organizations that stand out are the ones that connect clearly with their audience, show tangible impact, and use creativity to cut through the noise.
Remember: your campaign doesn’t need to be massive to be meaningful.
Whether it’s leveraging six champions, creating a branded campaign theme, or launching a storytelling challenge, the key is focus.
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