With just two weeks left in 2025, I’m more than ready to turn the page on this year. Looking ahead to 2026, we're focusing on expanding into the work we're excited about and finding more opportunities to learn and build community.
What this means for Focus is we’ll be offering more fundraising trainings next year, helping teams adopt smarter development strategies, and putting even greater emphasis on stewardship and donor journeys. With fewer donors giving each year, keeping the ones you have has never mattered more. The way supporters experience your mission between gifts is where creativity and care truly pay off.
On the personal side, I’m aiming for more calm, more hikes and travel, and more intentional time away from my desk. After the year we’ve had, I think we’ve all earned a little extra joy.
Here’s to claiming it in 2026.
The Takeaway on Giving Tuesday
Over the past couple of weeks, there’s been a lot of buzz about 2025’s GivingTuesday results. In case you missed it, according to GivingTuesday organizers, the global day of giving resulted in $4 billion in gifts in the U.S. alone, which is an increase of 13% over last year’s giving day, and participants/donors increased by 6% in the U.S.
Why did we see such growth?
Many people (including me!) thought we’d see a drop in donations this year because of affordability challenges and economic headwinds. But with great need there is often deeper giving from those who can afford to do more. That, plus creative use of tactics like match challenges and “celebrity” volunteers willing to help promote your cause also helped nonprofits connect with donors. This year also saw growth in AI usage in fundraising, and programs like GivingTuesday may have benefited from more robust and targeted language in messaging.
One other point on GivingTuesday: with 110 countries participating in 2025, the day has become so much bigger than the U.S.-centric movement it’s been in the past. This means it goes beyond one country’s economic issues or one region’s challenges. Instead, GivingTuesday shows how bringing attention to nonprofit missions and impact through targeted and nuanced messaging can result in greater donor interest and giving. The positive GivingTuesday news is enough to make me rethink what overall year-end results we might expect in the U.S. this year! Stay tuned for that analysis early in 2026. And, you can read more about Giving Tuesday results here.
Save The Date!
Fundraising Training
In early February, I'll be one of four trainers leading a 2-day, in-person Fundamentals of Fundraising workshop, held this year at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC. Worth 16 CFRE continuing education credits, this course is organized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals and features experienced development professionals as instructors who will guide you through core fundraising principles and real-world strategies. The course will cover:
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essential components of an integrated development plan;
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elements of marketing and communications that engage donors as well as inform the public about your work;
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details on how to sustain relationships with prospective donors, current donors, and volunteers;
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individual and group solicitation strategies to secure annual and major gifts;
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management policies/procedures to ensure development is conducted properly; and
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key ethics and accountability principles and practices.
Resource In Focus
🖥️ Check out our services and see how we can help you Focus. We offer complimentary 30-minute consultations, so if you’ve got a challenge you want to talk through, you need back-up on your team during a transition or while staff are on leave, or you want strategic guidance to boost results, reach out!
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