Impact Driven Archives - Empreinte Consulting

For nonprofit leaders, the rhythm of the year is familiar: spring is packed, fall is a sprint, and the end-of-year push is relentless. But July? July gives us just enough of a breather to think.

While summer may bring quieter inboxes and fewer back-to-back meetings, it’s not just a time to catch your breath. It’s the perfect time to regroup, reflect, and get your organizational house in order before the inevitable ramp-up come September. Think of it as “strategic housekeeping” — a chance to tidy up operations, review your internal practices, and build a more resilient infrastructure for the busy months ahead.

At Empreinte, we think of this moment as an invitation to step out of the weeds and look at the big picture. Here’s how you can make the most of this summer slowdown — and where we can help.

1. Streamline Operations: Prep Now to Move Faster Later

Want to avoid the scramble in Q4? Use July to audit and streamline your systems. Summer is a great time to:

Automate repetitive tasks (think donor acknowledgments, scheduling, grant calendars).
Document your SOPs so staff can easily step in and scale up when things get busy.
Clean up your database — remove duplicates, review coding, and update contact info. It’ll pay dividends come giving season.

Where Empreinte helps: Data Management & Reporting | Gift Processing | Development Infrastructure | Grants Management

2. Update Policies: Check for Gaps Before They Trip You Up

When was the last time your policies got a refresh? From bylaws to handbooks, policies can become outdated quickly — especially in today’s shifting compliance and funding environments. July is ideal for reviewing, revising, and aligning your internal guidelines with current best practices.

Schedule a policy review retreat with your board.
Make sure your governance documents reflect your current operations.
Use this time to align with DEI and accessibility best practices.

Where Empreinte helps: Nonprofit Leadership & Organizational Management | Board & Volunteer Management

3. Strengthen Governance: Use the Quiet to Build Trust

Strong governance isn’t flashy — but it’s foundational. Use the slower pace of summer to evaluate board engagement, role clarity, and committee effectiveness.

Conduct a board self-assessment or bring in a third-party facilitator.
Revisit roles, terms, and succession planning.
Plan your fall board retreat or strategy session now.

Where Empreinte helps: Board Development | Strategic Planning | Philanthropic Advisory Services

4. Recommit to a Culture of Compliance: More Than Policies on a Shelf

Compliance isn’t just about having the right documents — it’s about shared values and consistent behavior. Now is a great time to re-engage your team in conversations around:

Your Code of Ethics — is it active and guiding decisions?
The visibility of your compliance lead — does everyone know who to go to?
Your staff culture — are there equity issues or communication breakdowns that need attention?

As a dear compliance friend of mine always reminded me, compliance is a living, breathing part of your culture — not just a checklist.

Where Empreinte helps: Organizational Assessments | Culture Building | Leadership Coaching

5. Strategize for Fall: Build the Roadmap Now

With October (one of the busiest months for grant deadlines) and year-end fundraising around the corner, take this time to:

Prioritize your top grant opportunities and begin pre-work now.
Map out your annual giving strategy.
Re-engage major donors and plan for stewardship touchpoints.
Align your team around KPIs and development goals.

Where Empreinte helps: Annual Giving | Grant Strategy & Writing | Major Gifts | Stewardship Planning

Summer’s Real ROI: Breathing Room That Leads to Breakthroughs

Strategic housekeeping in July isn’t just maintenance — it’s investment. By focusing on operations, compliance, governance, and planning now, you’re not just staying organized. You’re building resilience, improving efficiency, and laying the groundwork for a strong close to the year.

And if it feels overwhelming, you don’t have to do it alone. Empreinte is here to help nonprofit leaders and teams move from stuck to strategic — especially in these quiet moments when meaningful change is most possible.

Let’s make this summer count.

Want help building your plan before September hits? Let’s talk.

✍ Written by: Pamela Ayers, Executive Vice President, Strategic Initiatives

When it comes to maximizing fiscal year-end giving strategy, there is no one best answer to the question of maximizing return, but instead, it might be best to ask yourself a few questions before operationalizing your fiscal year-end efforts.

Is your fiscal year based on the calendar year or some other timeframe?

In the case of every organization where I have worked, the fiscal year is July 1 – June 30. So, you have to ask yourself, do your donors know the importance of these dates as it relates to fundraising results? There may be a need to explain the importance of June 30 from a fundraising perspective, leading up to and as part of your fiscal year-end strategy and effort.

Do you have a compelling message?

My background is educational fundraising, and it has always been my belief that a compelling message, in this environment, includes impact-producing stories from those who benefit most from gifts. For instance, does your organization have a signature program or unique opportunity for which a short video, action photo with an accompanying pop-out quote or link to more information would make a case for support?

How will you transmit your message to donors?

The previous question makes the answer to this question very clear. You must consider transmitting your message and requesting support in as many ways as possible. An ‘old-fashioned’ letter is a great start, but what about email, social media, text-to-give, and any other tool that helps bring your story to life?

Who are your donors, and what is the best strategy for each group?

Having a good understanding of your donors and their giving habits can make a big difference in your success. Categorize your donors based on their connection to your organization and giving history to tailor your approach. Start with LYBUNTS, who have given before and know your mission. Some may not realize they’ve lapsed, so personal outreach can encourage them to stay loyal and consistent.

Next, for a large group of SYBUNTS, consider sorting them by dollar range to prioritize outreach if resources are limited. Highlight new programs and share success stories since their last donation while emphasizing the importance of renewing their gift this year.

Do you have a list of individuals who have engaged with your organization but never donated? These ‘never-donors’ are familiar with your organization, making them prime candidates for conversion. Once they donate, focus on renewing their support in future years.

Will personal outreach be meaningful at fiscal year-end?

The 3 C’s of fundraising—commitment, connection, and capacity—are crucial. For constituents who showed these traits previously but not this year, a personal touch might make a difference. This approach can be time-consuming and may not work for every organization due to staff limitations. Therefore, understanding your constituents and their key connections within your organization is essential for success in your fiscal year-end strategy.

Get creative with your approach.

If resources are limited, engage the board in personal outreach by organizing a phonathon and asking them to call prospective donors.

Consider asking a current donor to create a challenge grant fund up to a specified amount. Encourage donors to make their fiscal year-end contributions, knowing that their gifts will be amplified by the challenge fund.

Request a specific, reasonable amount of donation and clearly explain the purpose of the request. Donors may respond if the request is reasonable and the goal is clear and meaningful.

What options do we have for donors to make their gift?

The traditional giving methods, check, ACH, online, etc., are always a go-to for most donors, however, I believe that all organizations have to consider other options as well. At a former institution, we implemented a text-to-give feature several years ago. At first, it seemed useful for special events, but as promotion increased and donors became accustomed to this giving option, it evolved into a tool for giving at any time. About three years ago, we also added the ability to give via cryptocurrency. This option has not taken hold just yet, in the case of my previous organization, but digital wallets are becoming a game-changing payment option, so the ability to make a crypto transaction is going to increase your chances of attracting donors who are comfortable in this space.

Does your fiscal year-end strategy include a thank-you message strategy?

A crucial donor retention step is thanking donors for their gift, regardless of when the gift is made. However, for donors who stepped up and responded to your fiscal year-end appeal, a thank you is even more important.

It was always our best practice to:

Ensure that donors are promptly thanked following their donation. Create a thank-you page on your website for online contributions and include a thank-you message in your automated donation confirmation.
Send a detailed thank-you message within 48 hours of receiving each donor’s gift. Utilize this opportunity to emphasize how their contribution will support your objectives and advance your mission, and help reach the fiscal year-end goal!
Personalize thank-you messages with a special note from a constituent who benefits from the gift, your CEO, or board chair. Be sure to include the donors’ names and mention their donation amount.
Consider hosting an event to conclude your end-of-fiscal-year fundraising efforts and express gratitude to supporters in person. This also presents an excellent occasion to share results and show how their gift was impactful and meaningful.

The strategies for fiscal year-end success are infinite, and your non-profit will find success if you follow these three key points:

Have a well-thought-out plan that is well-polished in advance
Set reasonable and achievable goals
Define your target audience(s) and have a compelling message

Need help? Your team at Empreinte is ready to assist your non-profit with strategy and execution. Learn more about all the ways we can help at https://empreinteconsulting.com/services/.

✍ Written by: Brad Schreiber, Senior Advisor

Tag Archive for: Impact Driven

July is for Housekeeping: Why Now is the Time to Strategize for the Fall Rush