Year-End Reflections: 5 Fundamentals for Starting 2026

Thoroughly reexamine your annual development plan.

Whether you follow a calendar year or fiscal year, it’s time to reassess your fundraising goals, program revenue needs, operating needs, revenue sources, and their status. All development professionals should do this regularly,but as we approach the new year, do this with greater scrutiny.

Reflect on lessons learned in 2025 to recognize your true impact and use these insights to
plan and tell your story well in 2026. Also, resist the temptation to assume that renewed funding
will once again come in from the same funder(s). It’s always better to ask them (and you should
check in with them anyway).

James Misner, Founder of The Kipos Group , says, “Too many annual plan reviews are
exercises in justifying last year’s decisions instead of preparing for next year’s opportunities.
Instead, examine current trends, share insights across departments, and honestly assess results
without defensiveness. This shift from reactive reporting to proactive strategizing is what sets
successful nonprofits apart.”

Turbocharge your donor stewardship.

The key here is consistency, which involves intention, planning, diligence, and personalization. If your donor stewardship has been somewhat sporadic, it’s never too late to improve and start building lasting relationships. In today’s intense fundraising climate, you really don’t have the luxury to be complacent.

To get ahead of the game for 2026, map out a stewardship plan for the entire year, with personal
touches to send every month, including donor stories, newsletters, photos, videos, testimonials,
etc. If they’re local, schedule an in-person visit at least twice a year — perhaps once over coffee
and once at your location for a tour. Even if they’re out-of-state, you can still schedule video
visits.

Bonus points: Ask your donors/funders how they’ve been doing over this past year. Our
charitable partners have also felt the strain amidst the unsettling changes in 2025, with even
more demands put upon them, so taking a moment to check in with them might be an
unexpected and deeply appreciated gesture that very few nonprofits are doing.

Track your impact like a super-sleuth.

Tracking and measuring your programs’ impact is always important, but given fewer funding sources, unreliable government funding, and higher and more intense competition for corporate and foundation support, this is an area that you just cannot skimp now. It could make or break your chances of getting funded.

Just as with your development plan, reexamine your program metrics including outputs and outcomes, and the tools you use to measure your impact and success. Read through your metrics and results to see if they make sense to you and if they truly show your impact. If they seem weak in spots or just numbers on a page, take the time to strengthen them. Ask peers in similar sectors and/or connect with fundraising experts for advice and guidance.

Don’t be afraid to be authentic with your donors.

I get it. As fundraisers and nonprofit professionals, we always want to convey positivity, steadiness, and resilience to our funding partners. However, donors are people too, and they’re also experiencing the unprecedented upheavals of 2025.

Julie Winslett, CFRE, a fund development consultant in Scottsdale, AZ, shares, “Funders know
the landscape is difficult right now, and they understand that unexpected barriers can stand in
the way of success. Let them see the full picture — the challenges you’re wrestling with and the
risks you’re managing. Invite them to be part of the solution. That’s how real partnership grows.”

By sharing the real needs you’re seeing in the community you serve, your donors/funders will
appreciate it, and they’ll feel a much stronger impact about exactly where their dollars are going
and why they’re giving.

Stay plugged into nonprofit industry news for policy changes and impacts on the sector.

The more ahead-of-the-game you can be about changes regarding funding, charitable giving, tax implications, and other matters, the better footing and insight you’ll have to modify your development plans if needed.

There are many terrific nonprofit sources that have taken the lead on keeping watch for funding
and policy developments that you can turn to, including the National Council of Nonprofits,
along with the Chronicle of Philanthropy. If you can, follow these and other trusted sources on
LinkedIn for timely updates and insights.