A Season of Change

This morning, my youngest child drove off to start the first chapter of her adult life. She has a job and apartment waiting for her in a new city. I am so proud of her for finding a career path she’s passionate about and pursuing it with bravery and independence!

But there’s another side to my excitement … anxiety — for me. We’ve been "empty nesters" for four years, since my youngest left for college. But my children’s lives (ok, I know they are all young adults) still filled my calendar and schedule. Now, it feels as if my day-to-day engagement with their activities will really be changing.

At the same time, my mother has recovered from a recent surgery and will be needing less daily assistance from me. So here I am — reevaluating my own schedule and what it means to prioritize my own commitments and choices. And what will I do with those extra hours?

Amy, this seems sort of personal; what does your midlife crisis have to do with fundraising and nonprofit management?

Because just like in life, things in fundraising are always shifting. Staff changes, board priorities evolve, funding sources dry up, donor interests shift — and sometimes it all happens at once. That’s exactly why we always need to keep our donor pipelines full and our calendars packed with proactive outreach. Building relationships today is how we prepare for tomorrow’s uncertainty.

We can’t control when a long-time supporter moves away or when a major gift unexpectedly falls through — but we can ensure we’re not left scrambling.

And sometimes — hard as it is to say — our donors pass away. It’s a reminder of how personal and long-term these relationships are. That’s also why every nonprofit should include legacy giving or planned giving as part of its individual fundraising strategy. It honors your donors' lifelong connection to your mission, and it ensures their impact continues long after they’re gone. Having a simple bequest program or encouraging supporters to include your organization in their will can make a meaningful difference — and it’s never too early to start planting those seeds.

The most resilient fundraisers aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets, but the ones with the most consistent and thoughtful cultivation efforts.

Keeping the pipeline filled with new prospects — and staying in touch with existing ones — is the professional version of “being ready when life changes.” Because it always does.

So what does that look like in practice? Here are a few activities we recommend:

• Schedule a monthly “research hour” to identify new potential donors — whether they’re local community members, aligned businesses, or national funders who care about your issue area. Make it a standing date on your calendar.

• Ask your board members to share 1–2 contacts they haven’t yet introduced to the organization — and follow up with those contacts in a meaningful way. A personal invitation to coffee or a behind-the-scenes tour can open doors.

• Host a small, mission-focused event like a breakfast or lunch briefing. Keep it low-pressure and informative. These gatherings create natural touchpoints for introducing new people to your work.

• Run a targeted email campaign for lapsed donors — even a simple “We miss you!” or “Here’s what’s new” message can restart a conversation. Segment your list so messaging feels personal.

• Create a quarterly stewardship calendar with planned touchpoints (thank-you calls, updates, anniversaries, etc.). Consistency builds trust and shows donors they matter beyond the check they write.

• Say thank you more often — not just after a donation, but when someone attends an event, shares a social post, refers a friend, or volunteers their time. Every touchpoint is a chance to deepen engagement.

• Track your activities and results so you know what’s working. If coffee meetings are leading to major gifts — do more of those. If emails are getting opened but not generating clicks, revise your messaging.

• Include planned giving messages regularly — in your newsletter, on your website, or in annual appeals. Sometimes, people just need the idea planted and permission to consider it.

You don’t need to overhaul your entire strategy — just make sure you're always planting seeds while you’re harvesting results.

And if you need a few new ideas for keeping your pipeline full, give us a c

For more information on how Team Kat & Mouse can help you-reach out today!