3 ITEMS TO ADD TO YOUR TO DO LIST TODAY - THEN LEAVE THE REST FOR NEXT YEAR
I wanted to explore the 3 items I want you to add to your calendar TODAY. That way you can have some much needed rest as giving season comes to a close.
We all know that there is so much to clean up post holiday giving season. From the thank you’s, to the event clean up. Its madness. Only to be topped by your own personal holiday traditions. So give yourself a head-start with these three items to set you up for success and leave the rest for next year.
Pop your planner window up next to this blog and let’s get going.
#1 Make sure your donor management system is set with yearly totals for recurring donors
This task should take you only a few minutes. Here are your steps:
Create a query/ filter on your donor management system where you pull all recurring donors (or donors who gave more than once in the past year).
Export a sample and make sure that you can merge the file into a mail merge document (either on your donor management system OR on word/pages).
Create a letter thanking them for their 2022 yearly contribution to your nonprofit. Show the impact in numbers and show the full total. Make sure to include your EIN number and nonprofit status for tax filing.
Save both the query to run January 2023 and the letter to merge.
Put a calendar reminder (you know how I love for my nonprofits to use Asana) for the second week of January to process the letters (assign to the team member) and feel relief that this is set to go.
#2 Set a time to write out thank you’s for big contributions
Thanking your donors, sponsors and significant supporters ASAP is always important but in the hustle and bustle of nonprofit giving season, its easy to forget this step. So right now, set aside the time to thank them with personal notes. I recommend doing all of these post holiday madness, especially if you have holiday events that you host. If you dont have holiday events, you kinda need to get them out before the new year.
#3 Schedule time to rest and detach
You, my amazing world changers have given of yourself and your heart to your cause this year. Look back at all that you have accomplished! You should be so proud. Now, honor that contribution with some much deserved time off. Even if its only a day or two… schedule it. Mark it off. Block it off. Turn on your OOO and detach. Here are some of my favorite OOO emails to steal:
Sorry I am not here right now, but you know who is? Google. OOO till Tuesday.
Can you guess where I am? (Insert a sneaky photo or clue)
Holiday revelry and debauchery ahead. Proceed with caution (if you dare).
Die Hard Is A Christmas Movie. OOO till Monday.
I’m busy watching Christmas movies. See ya next year.
