Before the Year-End Giving Rush

Five practical, no-cost ways to strengthen donor relationships, build trust, and make the most of the 2026 year-end giving season.

We're about six weeks away from GivingTuesday, which means nonprofit development offices across Kansas City are preparing appeals, reviewing donor lists, finalizing communications, and trying to make the most of the last stretch of 2026. It's a busy season, and I thought it might be useful to share a few things that are easy to overlook when everyone is focused on getting the campaign out the door.

One of the simplest things an organization can do right now is make a small donation to itself using a personal phone. Go through the entire process as though you've never heard of the organization before. How many steps does it take? Does the donation form work properly? Are the suggested amounts reasonable? Is it clear what your contribution will support? What happens after you give? You might be surprised how many little inconveniences become obvious when you experience the process from a donor's perspective rather than an administrator's.

Another worthwhile exercise is to pull a list of everyone who made their first contribution during GivingTuesday or the December campaign last year and see how many have heard from the organization since. Not how many received a newsletter or an automated receipt, but how many received a meaningful acknowledgment or communication that helped them understand what their generosity accomplished. If the answer is very few, there's still time to reconnect before asking them to give again. And if someone made a particularly generous first gift, it's worth checking whether anyone actually picked up the phone to thank them.

I would also encourage organizations to look carefully at the language they're using in their year-end appeals, particularly statements about matching gifts. If a donor has offered to match contributions up to a certain amount, explain the terms clearly. Is the match dollar for dollar? Is there a deadline? Does it apply to every gift? Has the matching contribution already been committed? Donors shouldn't have to guess what a fundraising claim means, and organizations shouldn't underestimate how much clarity contributes to credibility.

Something else that deserves attention is whether people can easily find the information they need to feel comfortable making a gift. I don't think every donor is going to read an organization's Form 990, but someone considering a substantial contribution might want to review financial information, leadership, program results, or board composition. If that information is difficult to locate, outdated, or inconsistent across platforms, this is a good time to fix it. Transparency doesn't have to be complicated or expensive, and it shouldn't require someone to make a special request.

Finally, I think this is a particularly good time to thank the people who aren't currently being asked for anything. The volunteer who has shown up every month, the board member who quietly makes introductions, the community partner who regularly refers families, or the donor who has supported the organization for years without ever requesting recognition. A sincere, specific expression of appreciation that isn't immediately followed by a solicitation can mean a great deal. It also reminds us that the relationships sustaining an organization are considerably broader than the names appearing on a year-end giving report.

None of these things requires a new platform, a consultant, or an additional budget. Most could be accomplished in an afternoon. And while there's no substitute for a well-developed fundraising strategy, sometimes the most useful improvements come from paying closer attention to the experience we're creating for the people who make our work possible. I'd be interested to hear what other small changes Kansas City nonprofit professionals have made that turned out to be surprisingly valuable.

Kristin Peck is a Kansas City–based nonprofit development professional, social worker, and founder of Peck Advisory Group. Her work brings together fundraising, strategic partnerships, community engagement, and a commitment to strengthening the organizations and relationships that make meaningful social change possible. She writes about philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, and the practical challenges and opportunities facing the social sector.