<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=463403344021918&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1"> Skip to main content
Social Media
Inbound Marketing
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Email Marketing
Content Marketing
Fundraising
Nonprofits

NonProfit December Fundraising Benchmarks & Best Practices

Joe DiGiovanni

Joe DiGiovanni

Nov 12, 2015 12:12:33 PM
5 min read

5 Fundraising Benchmarks Every Non-Profit Should Know to Double December Donations

November and December are the most important fundraising months of the year for nonprofits. The giving season is just around the corner!   Now is the best time to optimize your online giving platform to maximize your year-end donations this year.

Right after Thanksgiving, charities nationwide will embark on the most important fundraising sprint of the year. The stakes are now even greater with Giving Tuesday on the horizon as every non-profit must think and act like a retailer, planning months in advance for one of the biggest days and months of the year.

After the Black Friday dust settles, just hours after most Americans have had a chance to digest their turkey and cranberries, it’s off to the NPO races as up to one third of your nonprofit’s 12 month fundraising goals come down to the next 30 days.

As such, every board member should be aware of the following December-Donation-Drivers that can make or break your organization’s annual goals.

BENCHMARKS

1:   30% of Nonprofit Fundraising occurs in December*

2:   10% of All Online Fundraising Occurs the Last 3 Days of The Year*

3:   30% of Donation Page Traffic to occur on December 1st #GivingTuesday 

4: 200% More Donations are raised by Mobile-Responsive Nonprofit Websites than Non-Mobile Optimized Sites 

5: 52% higher donations values are attributed to December than any other time of yearBEST PRACTICES

This data does not lie. Time to start now. 

A) start building e-mail lists and social media relationships with supporters in November;

B) upgrade their site to be mobile responsive;

C) change their websites to make donation collecting their focus during December;

E) hyper focus on social media for #GivingTuesday; 

F ) and send several reminder e-mails during the last week of December to capture those precious dollars during the those final 72 hours of the year.

 

5 Critical Questions to Ask Your Team

  • What are our fundraising goals for this giving season?
  • Do we have an integrated online and offline campaign strategy to meet our goals in December?
  • What is our process for identifying, nurturing and closing marketing qualified leads and sales qualified leads?
  • Do we have a mobile optimized website to meet the demand of the 80% of our constituents who own a smartphone?
  • Do we have a qualified team to execute the campaigns to meet these goals?

 

Donors who start giving in December are worth more over time. Over three years, the total amount they give is 52 percent higher than people who start giving at other times of year, according to Network for Good.

Couple that with a 200% increase in donations by mobile optimizing your site, and your foundation can be poised to more than double their December fundraising efforts.

By Joseph DiGiovanni - Co-Founder, Tapp Network - Digital Marketing for Nonprofits (A TechImpact.org Digital Marketing Technology Partner) and Certified Hubspot Partner Joe@TappNetwork.com

Want to Learn More?   Register for our Digital Marketing for Non-Profits Webinar with Tech Impact Nov 17th (6 spots left)   Click Here 

To Download a Free "Donation Planning Worksheet" (Excel)  Click Here

 

 Sources: Network for Good Global Giving Report, Network for Good, Donor Drive

 

Assessment & Planning

Assessment & Planning

Begin with a comprehensive assessment of current capabilities, identifying gaps and opportunities. Develop a strategic roadmap that prioritizes initiatives based on business value and feasibility.

Pilot & Learn

Pilot & Learn

Launch pilot programs in specific areas to test approaches, build capabilities, and generate quick wins. Use these experiences to refine strategies and build organizational confidence.

Scale & Optimize

Scale & Optimize

Expand successful pilots across the organization while continuously optimizing processes and technologies. Establish centers of excellence to support ongoing capability development.

Downloadable Resources

Access comprehensive guides, templates, and tools to support your transformation journey.

Joe DiGiovanni
About the Author

Joe DiGiovanni

Joe DiGiovanni, a purpose-driven entrepreneur with a background in behavioral science and marketing technology, co-founded Tapp Network, driving digital transformation for government agencies, Fortune 100 brands, and communities seeking to scale social impact through innovation.

Continue Reading

Related Articles

Overcoming Social Media Challenges for Nonprofits
Read Article
Blog
Oct 23, 2025 8:00:02 AM
min

Overcoming Social Media Challenges for Nonprofits

Nonprofits often face unique challenges when it comes to managing their social media presence. These challenges can hinder their ability to effecti...

Tapp Network
Tapp Network
Integrating Social Media in the Nonprofit Donor Journey
Read Article
Blog
Sep 25, 2025 7:59:59 AM
min

Integrating Social Media in the Nonprofit Donor Journey

In today's digital-first world, the donor journey for nonprofits has evolved significantly. The path from awareness to action is now heavily influe...

Tapp Network
Tapp Network
Boost Digital Performance with Analytics: Web, Email, and Social Media
Read Article
Blog
Sep 16, 2025 7:30:00 AM
min

Boost Digital Performance with Analytics: Web, Email, and Social Media

In the age of digital transformation, nonprofits are increasingly turning to data analytics to drive their missions forward. Analytics provide inva...

Tapp Network
Tapp Network