Somehow, we made it through another Giving Tuesday. I wanted to share this quick post-Giving Tuesday to-do list—too often, we see organizations skip these steps and suffer the consequences down the road.
Here are the five things you should do after every end-of-year fundraising push if you want to build a lasting movement:
1️⃣. Celebrate your victories! One of the biggest mistakes advocacy organizations make is not publicly celebrating their wins. What went well in recent months? What victories can you claim?
Did you help secure a big legislative win? Did you grow your supporter base or have a notable impact in a new community? Did you reach a fundraising milestone with your supporters' help?
Celebration is an essential part of building a sustainable movement. Significant achievements are great, but incremental progress is also worth celebrating. Systemic change rarely happens overnight, and it's vital that you continue to remind your supporters—and your team—that their hope is valid.
2️⃣. Say thank you in a meaningful way to everyone who has supported your mission, financially or otherwise. Don't skip this step.
3️⃣. Reflect on the data. Too often, visionary leaders are pulled from one fight to the next. While things are still fresh, learn from and document what went right and what you need to do better next year.
4️⃣. Preview the year ahead. Now is the time to get new supporters bought in. Let your audience know what challenges you're facing, what you have planned, and how they are essential in the year ahead. You've done the hard work of evaluating possibilities and making plans, so now is the time to let your supporters know what’s coming.
5️⃣. BREATHE! If your vision of a better future inspires your work, it can be hard to take a break. Consider this your reminder to intentionally pause and make time for yourself to restore and recover in whatever way makes sense for you.
Not sure what all of this looks like for you and your organization? We can help you build a movement that lasts longer than one political cycle. Schedule a call with our team today.