The new fiscal year is officially here—and for many of you, that means a fresh calendar, renewed goals, and likely… a whole new set of challenges. Whether you’re navigating budget cuts, staff transitions, ambitious revenue goals, or all of the above, I want to offer four tried-and-true practices that my most successful clients are leaning into right now. The best part? These don’t require big new investments of cash—just intention, planning, and a little love.

Here’s how to start the year off strong:

1. Create (and use!) a Board Action Plan
   The boards that are most engaged in fundraising aren’t necessarily packed with seasoned fundraisers—they just know what’s expected of them and feel supported. That’s where a simple Board Action Plan comes in.

This is a document that helps each board member identify their unique fundraising-focused contributions for the year, whether that’s making thank-you calls, hosting a table at your fall event, or introducing you to a prospective funder.

Click here to download our free Board Action Plan template.

Case in point: A mid-sized nonprofit we work with saw a 40% increase in board-sourced revenue last year using this tool. We introduced it during the Board retreat, and worked in real time to help each Board member get started on establishing their personal goals. Following the retreat, the Director of Development met 1:1 with each member to finalize their plans (and commit to being their fundraising accountability buddy). 

Magic? No. Just strategy + accountability.

2. Build a New Donor Welcome Series (3–5 emails)
   If someone made their first gift last year and never heard from you again… let’s fix that. A short welcome email sequence can be what turns a transactional donor into a lifelong advocate.

Your series should do three things:

• Inform: Teach them what your mission looks like in action and what community needs or big, societal challenges your work addresses.
• Inspire: Show them how their gift is already making a difference.
• Invite: Offer ways to connect beyond giving—volunteering, attending events, or joining a tour are just a few possibilities.

You don’t need fancy tech. Even a simple Mailchimp or Gmail-based system can do the job if you’re consistent and personal. A youth development focused organization we work with saw a 20% boost in donor retention from one year to the next after implementing a 4-email welcome flow. That’s more than 200 donors!

3. Reconnect with Lapsed Donors
   If someone hasn’t given or responded to your outreach in over 12 months, it’s time to show them some love. Comb through your CRM and make a list of folks who’ve gone quiet. Then:

• Send handwritten notes or personalized emails
• Pick up the phone to thank them for their previous support and invite them to re-engage
• Remind them that they matter

These aren’t cold prospects—they’re friends who drifted away. One of my coaching clients in healthcare re-engaged 12 lapsed donors in just one month using a simple, personalized “we miss you” outreach strategy. 

Don’t sleep on your past supporters—they’re gold.

4. Make a Plan to Take Care of You
   This is going to be a hard year. I’m not saying that to be discouraging—I’m saying it because I want you to be ready. The sector is shifting. Donors are feeling cautious. And through it all, your community still needs you to show up with purpose and energy.

So, let’s all commit to some, or all, of the following behaviors:

• Prioritize rest.
  
• Lean on your people.
  
• Find a coach, therapist, friend, or mentor to process with.
  
• Identify what gets you out of your head and back into your body—dancing, hiking, deep breaths in the car between meetings.
  
• Set real boundaries that protect your peace and keep you sane.

I’m walking this talk too: I’ll be offline the entire last week of July, fully unplugged and on vacation. If you email me during that time, I won’t see it until I’m back in early August—because rest is not just a luxury, it’s a vitally important leadership practice.

Let’s go into this new year grounded, focused, and confident in the face of adversity. You’ve got this—and if you need support we’re here to help.

With joy and deep gratitude for all you do!

Hannah Berger
The Philanthropy Coach