The Calm before the Campaign: Planning for a Productive Fall

Summer is often seen as a slow - or even unproductive - time for fundraising. Donors are away, schedules are lighter, and year-end feels far off. But what if summer is actually the most valuable season to prepare for a successful fall?

In this one-hour workshop, participants will explore how to use the quieter summer months to reflect, regroup, and lay the groundwork for a more intentional and less stressful year-end fundraising campaign. Rather than jumping straight into appeal writing and deadlines, we’ll focus on building a compelling story, strengthening donor relationships without asking, and putting systems in place that support long-term sustainability.

This session is designed for fundraisers who want to be productive without burning out - and who want their fall campaigns to feel thoughtful, prepared, and grounded rather than rushed.

Participants will leave with:

• A new way to think about summer as a strategic (and restorative) season