10 Ways to Maximize End-of-Year Giving Donations

December 31 is a powerful motivator for charitable giving, creating opportunity for nonprofits as donors try to meet the year-end tax deadline and take advantage of deductions. Use these 10 end-of-the-year tips to help increase donations to your charity.

1. Craft a Compelling Message - One of the most important factors to attract new donors and gain their long-term loyalty is your nonprofit's message. Make it clear and concise. It's extremely important to illustrate to your donors why you need their help and how their donation will make a difference. Use this powerful message through every media avenue you utilize. Make your goals specific and actionable.

2. Have a Goal in Mind - Give your donors a reason to give at the end of the year. For instance, recruit a foundation or larger donor to match year-end giving to a certain amount or promise all money will go toward a specific initiative such as a new playground at your nonprofit. You could also plan a competition, pitting older alumni versus younger alumni for donations, for instance.

3. Test Your Messaging - Email campaigns are a tried-and-true technique for fundraising, but are you truly measuring what works? Experiment by breaking your email list into two batches of emails, and see which messages, colors, themes and content perform best. This can work on social media as well.