As the year winds down, I like to reflect on what I’ve accomplished this year, what I’m still committed to working on next year, and what ideas or projects need to be abandoned and not carried into the new year. (Yes, it’s okay to cut some things loose that need to be let go.)
Creating Goals as Opposed to Resolutions
You may think of this process as creating resolutions, but most resolutions are often broken. I create goals (as opposed to resolutions) and review them annually, monthly, and even weekly. Goals provide direction and something that can be measured.
You may do something similar (or you should) with regard to your life, work, and fundraising. You may wish to have separate lists, but mine is integrated, as my life and work flow back and forth between one another.
I don’t subscribe to the idea of work-life balance, and I don’t subscribe to the traditional “work from 9 to 5, Monday through Friday” type of schedule. I’m often involved with board retreats on weekends or during the evening, so if I have something personal to do during the traditional workweek, I don’t think twice about it.
In other words, I try to integrate my work and my life to have some sort of balance. You know what I mean?
Amy’s Top 10 Goals and Advice for Fundraisers
As you may know from some of my most popular prior posts, I’m a list maker. I like to check things off as I accomplish them and view the progress I’ve made.
Here’s my top 10 list of goals and suggestions for an amazing year, in no particular order. Some are big and abstract, others are more concrete.
1. Read a great book — inspirational or educational.
I recommend and oldie but goodie “A Path Appears” by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. If you’re looking for inspiration or need a reminder of why you got into philanthropy in the first place, I highly recommend this book.
My favorite fundraising book of all time is called “Train Your Board” by Andrea Kihlstedt and Andy Robinson. If one of your goals is to create a culture of philanthropy at your organization and among your board members, this book is a must-read.
I’m currently reading a new book by Cherian Koshy called “Neurogiving”.
2. Try something new.
In my writing and speeches, I often refer to the definition of insanity — doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result. It pains me to see fundraisers doing the same things year after year, and expecting to raise more money.
What will you try that’s new and different this year?
3. Remember the tried and true.
Use the phone to call your donors. Leave a message. Say thank you. If they pick up, ask them why they give and what they find compelling about your organization. There’s still time to do this before the year ends. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone. If you call 3 donors per day for the next 10 days, you’ll have called 30 donors!
4. Set a huge goal.
This one is key to your success, and has helped me more in my career than anything else. If you don’t set a huge goal, then you will only set your goal based on what you did last year. Think outside the box and think big!
In 2026, I will be rolling out two new keynote speeches:
- One on raising the biggest gifts.
- Another on leadership and how to have a big vision.
And, I’ve significantly revised my keynote on Happiness and Good Habits. Last fall I enrolled in an intensive, six-month speaking program to up my speaking game. I can’t wait to get on the stage with my new topics. (If you’re planning a conference for 2026 or 2027, I hope you’ll consider me for the keynote or featured speaker slot.)
5. Learn a new skill.
Whether it’s from taking classes, attending a conference, learning to run a 5K, or reading books, I always have new skills on my list. See number 4 above! I also started learning piano in 2025. I found a fantastic teacher and I’m loving learning to play.
6. Laugh every day.
Sometimes life gets too serious and too hectic. Although I hate to admit it, I sometimes need to remind myself to laugh with friends and family every day. Instead of watching a drama or reading something serious, I intentionally pick a comedy to lighten the mood.
7. Get inspired.
Need some inspiration?
There are endless blogs, books, podcasts, and social media posts to help get your wheels turning. Sometimes I tune into a TedX channel or turn to my podcasting app. Have you listened to my podcast, All About Capital Campaigns? (It’s not only about capital campaigns — give it a listen and you’ll see.)
8. Think happy thoughts.
Did you know that happy people give more to charity?
That’s pretty important information for you to have as a fundraiser. Harvard Business School produced a working paper called Feeling Good About Giving, which showed:
…happier people give more and giving makes people happier.
In other words, the more you give, the happier you are. And the happier you are, the more you give. How awesome is that?
And doesn’t it make sense that happy people would want to be around other happy people? So if you’re happy, it’s more likely that your donors will want to be around you. That’s huge for major gift and capital campaign fundraising.
9. Reflect upon traditional year-end fundraising wisdom.
In case you were looking for more of my traditional fundraising ideas, here are some of my favorite year-end posts and guides:
- A Year-End Giving Checklist: How to Maximize Your Fundraising Success
- Major Gift Fundraising – Everything You Need to Know
- Capital Campaigns 101: Ultimate Guide for Beginners
Give these a look as you begin to think about your plans for 2026 and beyond.
10. Consider a capital campaign.
I’m spending most of my time and energy these days at Capital Campaign Pro. We provide modern and innovative campaign consulting. We work with the most amazing clients and would be honored if you’d consider us for your upcoming feasibility study or campaign support.
Check out the website for various campaign resources.
So what are some of your year-end and/or New Year goals? Share them in the comments.
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