The last few months of the year are a whirlwind for nonprofits, with events, volunteers and year-end campaigns all colliding at once. With so much to do, one thing that can often get delayed is stewardship.
But this is exactly the time when people are paying the most attention to your organization. Saying “thank you” doesn’t have to be time-consuming; it just needs to be intentional.
Here are a few ways to make stewardship easier and more effective during the busiest time of year:
Schedule your gratitude just like your campaigns. Draft and pre-schedule thank-you emails, video messages and social posts before November hits. Having touchpoints ready means you can send thank yous promptly, without scrambling, and ideally within 24 hours of a donation.
This also gives you wiggle room to focus on other efforts and be more present with your community.
Not every donor needs the same level of follow-up, but every donor needs acknowledgment. Borrow the tiered system below to help you make the most of your time and effort.
This approach keeps your gratitude genuine and scaled while managing team bandwidth.
Invite staff, board members and volunteers to help with thank-you calls and notes. A “Gratitude Day” can become a fun internal tradition that also lightens the load. Annual events like these help maintain and deepen relationships with your most supportive team and community members while allowing you to do more.
Within a week or two of your campaign, send donors a short update. Here’s an example: “Because of you, 2,500 families received clean water, food and essential supplies this holiday season.”
Quick feedback closes the loop, builds trust and keeps donors engaged. Also, public updates on your impact boost your transparency for those paying close attention to your organization.
January is a perfect time for follow-ups. Share a “Season of Gratitude” recap, with photos, videos or an impact summary that celebrates what your community accomplished together. It’s a natural on-ramp for continued engagement and recurring giving.
Bottom line: The holidays can be chaotic, but gratitude doesn’t have to be. A few pre-planned systems and small, thoughtful touches can transform stewardship from a potentially stressful task into a seamless part of your nonprofit’s rhythm.
With intentionally planned moments, you can do more for and receive more from your community. May your year’s end bring generosity and bonds that can flourish in the new year.