This is my last bit of advice before January 1: make sure you’re dating year-end gifts correctly. Checks, credit cards, DAFs, stock, and QCDs all play by different IRS rules, and getting them right protects donor trust. I put together a quick guide to make this easier as you close out the year.

There’s a deceptively small detail in fundraising that can make or break a relationship: a name. One wrong prefix, a lowercase first name, a duplicate record that turns “Dr. Lopez” into “Mr. Lopez”… and suddenly what should feel personal feels careless. Donors don’t always say when it bothers them — but when they do, it’s unforgettable. I’m digging into why this happens, how it snowballs, and why getting a name right builds lasting trust.

Donor-Advised Funds are one of the fastest-growing ways people give—but too often, nonprofits forget to mention them. ✨ That’s why I put together a quick guide to make giving via DAF embarrassingly easy: say it out loud, say it proud, celebrate it, and invite their story.

Even if you think you aren’t… you probably are. And if you’re not acknowledging properly or promoting them, you’re likely out of compliance and leaving money on the table. With RMDs due by December 31, now is the time to put this amazing giving tool to work for your mission.

I have an unpopular opinion about Giving Tuesday: no one’s sitting around waiting for a random Tuesday to make a charitable contribution. And, in my experience, Giving Tuesday only works when it’s more than one day — stretched into weeks of heartfelt, story-driven touchpoints that make your community feel part of something real.