Here's how I'd audit my fundraising at the halfway mark

Hi Reader,

If you're like most nonprofit fundraisers, the halfway mark of the year sneaks up on you. One day you're recovering from your year-end campaign, and the next you're wondering how you're already in May.

Here's the thing: a midyear audit doesn't have to be a big production. I'm not talking about a full-day retreat or a 20-page report. I'm talking about a focused hour (maybe two) where you look your numbers in the eye and decide what the rest of the year actually needs from you.

Here's how I'd do it:

1. Pull your year-to-date revenue. What percentage of your annual goal have you raised? Is it on track with what you raised at this point by last year? Remember, not all income comes in consistently throughout the year - have a large portion come in at the end of the year is typical. So look at the trends for your organization.
2. Review your donor retention. How many donors who gave last year have given again this year? Is anyone missing? Now is the time to reach out to them!
3. Check your major gift pipeline. Are your top 10 prospects getting consistent attention? When's the last time someone reached out to each of them personally?
4. Look at your grant calendar. Which grants are due in Q3 and Q4? What needs to be written, and what relationships need to be warmed up before you submit?
5. Name one thing you'd change. If you could go back and do January through June differently, what's the one thing you'd do? That answer usually tells you exactly what to prioritize from here.

The goal isn't to be hard on yourself about what didn't happen. It's to get clear and make some decisions before the fall hits.

I built a budget tracker for exactly this - it handles the numbers part so you can spend your energy on strategy, not spreadsheet cleanup.

Six months is enough time to get back on track. You just have to know where to start!

Cheers,
Kayla