Tips and Tools for 2026 Fundraising

As the calendar turns over, we feel the excitement of new opportunities, a fresh start, and new planning! As you dive into 2026, we’re here to share some tips and reminders for how to maximize your resources and start your fundraising strong, right out of the gate.

1.       Consider how you invest your time

We all know that the biggest challenge of fundraising is that it takes a significant time investment. So, it’s important that your investment produces a strong payback. Your time is precious, and it’s worth a lot! Of the types of fundraising, major giving has the lowest cost per dollar at about $.10. Grant writing, planned giving, and direct mail aren’t far behind at $0.20-0.25 per dollar. The fundraisers with the lowest return rate? Events, at about $.50 per dollar (Source: Bloomerang.com). If you’ve got a calendar full of 5Ks, galas, and silent auctions, this probably doesn’t surprise you. Events are a ton of work, and it’s difficult to convert attendees into regular donors. If possible, shift your focus away from golf outings and toward relationship building, digital fundraising, and building a culture of philanthropy within your organization. In many cases, it’s wise to consider events to be “friend-raisers” instead of “fundraisers.” This will change how and at what rate you invest resources.

2.       Take steps towards building and refining  a culture of philanthropy

If you’re a development director, you know your focus is fundraising, but what about the rest of your organization? Fundraising is the engine that powers the mission, so every team member at every level of your organization can and should be supporting fund development. So, how can every person, from volunteers to staff to Board members, be an ambassador for giving? Ensure everyone can articulate a case for giving. This starts with each person being able to share why the organization is meaningful to them. A fun exercise for a Board meeting or staff meeting is to have 1-3 people at each meeting share why the org is important to them. Sometimes, when we are eyeballs deep in the day-to-day, it’s easy to lose sight of why we do the work. And, the “why” is the first step in being an ambassador and engaging others in the mission.

3.       Take a step forward in using AI

Whether you’re an expert or just dipping your toe in the AI waters, consider how you can leverage this tool in more ways this year. A great place to start is with communications – social media posts, donor letters/emails, and grant applications. AI can help you avoid the dreaded blank page by giving you a great start. Of course, humans are still needed for that specific, personal touch, and proofreading is a must! If you’re already comfortable using generative AI, remember it’s also helpful for predicting. Consider how you can use it to forecast donor behavior and personalize outreach. It’s easy to get started with a free tool like ChatGPT or some orgs have access to Microsoft Co-Pilot. A great book to check out is Nonprofit AI by Nathan Chappell.

4.       Start off 2026 by showing gratitude

Donor appreciation - It’s a classic for a reason! If you’ve been in development for any time at all, you know this is the most important part of the process. Thank your donors by sharing your success stories, hosting simple gatherings to keep them in the loop, and asking for their feedback. Send them a quick email in January to thank them for their support in 2025 and share what you have upcoming this year. Another quick task is looking at your gift acknowledgement letters. Do these start off with the same old boring language (thank you for your gift of $XXX received on DATE…), or is yours starting off by sharing a simple quote or story of impact that will make your donors feel connected? For ideas on donor appreciation, consider reading Thankology by Lisa Sargent. These simple steps can help you retain donors you’ve already engaged and don’t require a ton of resources.

 We hope 2026 will be a successful year for your mission and your organization… no matter what the year brings. Please know our team is here to help – feel welcome to sign up for a Discovery Session if you have fundraising questions or ideas that you’d like to explore.

More tips on fundraising from AWC.com:

Collaborate, don’t compete with your fellow nonprofits

Understand and encourage giving from Donor Advised Funds

Executive Directors, get Amanda’s fundraising recommendations for 2026 live! Join us on February 17 for Nonprofit Leaders Advance