You're not just getting a plan for 2026. You're getting a framework you can use year after year. Modify it. Refine it. But you'll never be starting from scratch again.
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Tuesday, February 10th
Tuesday, February 10th
Build Your 2026 Fundraising Plan
Build Your 2026 Fundraising Plan
You’ve run the numbers and have a clear idea of how your fundraising went last year.
You’ve run the numbers and have a clear idea of how your fundraising went last year.
Whether you beat expectations or came up a little short, you’ve got a chance for a fresh start in 2026.
The simplest way to have a successful fundraising year is to have a clear written fundraising plan that shows exactly when you’ll be communicating with your donors and what you’ll be saying to them when you do.
That’s because your donors are more likely to give at certain times of the year. And those times might not match up with when you've always sent your appeals.
If you're just repeating last year's schedule, you might be asking when it's convenient for YOU instead of when your DONORS are likely to give.
And your major donors also have a predictable giving cycle. The most successful fundraising operations have a written plan for each major donor – so they always know when to ask, when to report, and when to just check in to say hello.
The simplest way to have a successful fundraising year is to have a clear written fundraising plan that shows exactly when you’ll be communicating with your donors and what you’ll be saying to them when you do.
That’s because your donors are more likely to give at certain times of the year. And those times might not match up with when you've always sent your appeals.
If you're just repeating last year's schedule, you might be asking when it's convenient for YOU instead of when your DONORS are likely to give.
And your major donors also have a predictable giving cycle. The most successful fundraising operations have a written plan for each major donor – so they always know when to ask, when to report, and when to just check in to say hello.
The truth: when you don't have a written fundraising plan, you're leaving money on the table. Especially with your major donors.
The truth: when you don't have a written fundraising plan, you're leaving money on the table. Especially with your major donors.
What that means for your organization?
What that means for your organization?
Without a clear plan, you're reacting instead of planning. Appeals get squeezed in at the last minute. Major donors slip through the cracks because there's no system for staying in touch with them month after month.
Your current donors could give more. They want to support you. But you're not giving them enough opportunities to say yes because you're not planning when to ask.
Your current donors could give more. They want to support you. But you're not giving them enough opportunities to say yes because you're not planning when to ask.
And here's what really hurts: you're working just as hard (maybe harder) than organizations that ARE raising more money. The difference? They have a written fundraising plan. You don't.
What if there was a better way?
What if there was a better way?
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What if you could work hands-on with experts to:
What if you could work hands-on with experts to:
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Build your complete 2026 donor communications calendar with strategic timing for every appeal, newsletter, and email.
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Create individual 12-month plans for a handful of your top major donors so you never lose track of them again
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Identify exactly when YOUR donors are most likely to give based on your organization type
Introducing the 2026 Fundraising Plan Intensive
Introducing the 2026 Fundraising Plan Intensive
This isn't another webinar where you take notes and wonder how to apply them later. This is hands-on work with Jim Shapiro and Sarah Lundberg from The Better Fundraising Company to build your actual 2026 fundraising plan – while they're in the (Zoom) room to guide you.
You'll create your custom fundraising plan with Jim and Sarah’s expert guidance. You'll leave the intensive knowing when you’ll be communicating with your donors, and what you’ll be saying to them.
And you can bring a colleague – up to 2 people per organization can attend!
You'll create your custom fundraising plan with Jim and Sarah’s expert guidance. You'll leave the intensive knowing when you’ll be communicating with your donors, and what you’ll be saying to them.
And you can bring a colleague – up to 2 people per organization can attend!
HERE'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS:
HERE'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS:
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1
Hour 1 - Your Mass Donor Communications Plan (led by Sarah Lundberg):
We'll start by figuring out when YOUR donors are most likely to give. Jim and Sarah have worked with every type of nonprofit – food banks, animal shelters, arts organizations, human services, education, healthcare – and they will help you understand when donors typically respond to YOUR kind of organization.
Then you'll build your appeal calendar for 2026 around those moments. You'll schedule your appeals when donors are most likely to respond – not whenever you sent them last year.
Then you’ll learn how to fill in the rest of your fundraising plan: newsletters, e-appeals, e-stories (Sarah will explain what these are and how they keep you from going dark on donors between appeals).
By the end of Hour 1, you'll have a mass donor fundraising plan built around when your donors are actually ready to give.
Then you'll build your appeal calendar for 2026 around those moments. You'll schedule your appeals when donors are most likely to respond – not whenever you sent them last year.
Then you’ll learn how to fill in the rest of your fundraising plan: newsletters, e-appeals, e-stories (Sarah will explain what these are and how they keep you from going dark on donors between appeals).
By the end of Hour 1, you'll have a mass donor fundraising plan built around when your donors are actually ready to give.
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2
Hour 2 - Your Major Donor Plans (led by Jim Shapiro):
Major gift fundraising is where many organizations leave a ton of money on the table. You have major donors. But do you have a written plan for staying in touch with each of them throughout the year?
In Hour 2, we'll build individual 12-month plans for a handful of your donors. You'll make a plan for when to ask them (and what to ask them for), when to report back to them, and how you’ll stay in touch in the ‘in-between times.’
And Jim will show you how to layer major donor touches on top of your mass donor calendar. How to personalize your appeals for them. When to include them in appeals versus when to make personal asks.
By the end of Hour 2, you'll have a solid plan for engaging with the most important donors your organization has.
In Hour 2, we'll build individual 12-month plans for a handful of your donors. You'll make a plan for when to ask them (and what to ask them for), when to report back to them, and how you’ll stay in touch in the ‘in-between times.’
And Jim will show you how to layer major donor touches on top of your mass donor calendar. How to personalize your appeals for them. When to include them in appeals versus when to make personal asks.
By the end of Hour 2, you'll have a solid plan for engaging with the most important donors your organization has.
HERE'S THE INVESTMENT
HERE'S THE INVESTMENT
Your investment: $500
Your investment: $500
Here's how to think about it: if you don't have a written plan for your major donors, you're almost certainly leaving thousands of dollars on the table this year. If this intensive helps you get just one additional gift from one major donor, it's paid for itself.
But here's the real value: you're not just getting a plan for 2026. You're getting a framework you can use year after year. Modify it. Refine it. But you'll never be starting from scratch again.
You get customized help for YOUR organization – not one-size-fits-all advice. To provide that level of support, Jim and Sarah are capping this intensive at no more than 12 organizations.
But here's the real value: you're not just getting a plan for 2026. You're getting a framework you can use year after year. Modify it. Refine it. But you'll never be starting from scratch again.
You get customized help for YOUR organization – not one-size-fits-all advice. To provide that level of support, Jim and Sarah are capping this intensive at no more than 12 organizations.
Register now before the Intensive fills up.
Register now before the Intensive fills up.
The Online Intensive happens Tuesday, February 10th from 3:00 - 5:00 PM ET.
Ready to get started?
Ready to get started?
PO Box 1563 Edmonds, WA 98020 | info@betterfundraising.com
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