What will success look like in November or December?
What You Do This Week Can Set Up a Major Donation Later This Year
It’s already August. You or your team may be slowing down for summer — taking vacation, catching your breath after a heavy proposal season in June and July. Rest is important, and you’ve earned it.
But this quiet stretch is also the perfect time to reconnect with past and prospective donors who are overdue for a touchpoint. Semi-regular communication (3–4 times a year) keeps the relationship warm, gives you a chance to share updates that show real impact, and helps you learn things about your donors that make your end-of-year ask more timely and relevant.
If that sounds daunting — because your donor list is long, or you’re not even sure how long it is — don’t worry. It doesn’t have to be complicated.
Here are 5 tips to make donor engagement simple and painless as you finish out summer and prepare for giving season.
1. Create Your List
Identify 15–20 donors who:
Would appreciate a contact that isn’t focused on a donation request, and
Are strong candidates for a significant gift (above-average for your organization)
Include past or prospective donors you haven’t had direct contact with in the last three months.
2. Use Your Team
If a board member or staffer has a stronger relationship with a particular donor, bring them into the project. If you don’t already have a system for this, a simple spreadsheet works well — assign contacts and spread them out over several weeks so it doesn’t become an intense workload for anyone.
3. Determine the Best Mode of Communication
Phone calls, texts, and emails are the most common options. If a donor’s preferred contact method isn’t already in their profile, use your best judgment.
4. Prepare Your Message
Have a reason for reaching out — but make sure it’s not just about you. Share something genuine: a new partnership, a successful summer program, or a heads-up about an upcoming event (non-fundraising). Then open the door for a real response — ask about their life and work, or follow up on something from a previous conversation.
5. Document What You Learn
After each conversation or exchange, log the relevant details in the donor’s profile. “Relevant” means anything tied to their interests, ability, or values that could connect to their reason for supporting your organization — plus anything that shapes how and why you communicate with them.
Examples worth noting: a job change, buying or selling a home, a death in the family, a child’s graduation, or a recent professional award. Small updates like these can meaningfully sharpen how you approach the ask during this year’s giving season.
Want more than 5 tips? Join the Own the Ask Academy — a cohort of organization leaders investing in building a real donor pipeline, not just chasing one-off gifts. The next cohort kicks off September 11th.
We are excited to welcome Jilla Tombar to the Own the Ask Academy faculty. Jilla is the Director of Grants Management and Strategy at the Foundation for Louisiana, with 25+ years across the nonprofit and philanthropic ecosystem. She has helped move over $100 million into communities across Louisiana, the South, and nationally. She joins the Academy to help our cohort see the ask from the funder’s side of the table.
100 Voices of Florida - Grants for filmmakers in Florida for any stage of production - September 20, 2026.
Abelard Foundation - East - Grants for local progressive social change activities for organizations east of the Mississippi River with budgets under $350,000. - September 15, 2026.
Venable Foundation - Funding for civic, art, legal, health organizations across 8 major metro areas. LOI approval is required before applying. - September 1, 2026.
Akron Community Foundation - Millennium Fund provides grants to orgs in northeast Ohio for youth, art, family assistance, education, and more - September 1, 2026.
South Arts – Arts in Community Grants - Grants up to $10,000 for nonprofit arts organizations in 9 southern states for community engagement projects - September 1, 2026.
Mary Allen Lindsay Branan Foundation - Grants to organizations in Georgia to assist those in need - September 1, 2026.
Austin Film Society Grant for Short Films - Cash grants for Texas-based filmmakers working in any style or genre for short film development, production, and post-production - August 27, 2026.
Berkeley Short Film Program - Award for narrative short film projects from directors in the East Bay on the topic of environmental or social justice - August 24, 2026.
Abel Foundation - Funding for arts, social services, housing, family assistance, and more in Nebraska’s Lancaster and Lincoln counties - August 15, 2026.
American Eagle Foundation - To support local nonprofits helping teens and youth in mental health, social development, and authentic lives - August 10, 2026.
Leadership Fellows at The Trust - rolling deadline
Harvard Health Coverage Fellowship - rolling deadline
Seeding Disruption Fellowship - rolling deadline
Craft Archive Fellowship - For researchers, scholars, and artists conducting research on history of underrepresented craft artists - rolling deadline
Women inPower Fellowship - For women who are 3-5 years away from C-suite positions or women based in NYC (separate cohorts) - November 2026.
Camargo Fellowship - 10-week residencies in Cassis, France for artists, scholars, and thinkers pursuing research, experimentation, and interdisciplinary work - October 1, 2026.
Sacatar 2027 Open Call - Fully funded 8-week artist residencies on the island of Itaparica, Brazil for artists of all nationalities and disciplines, including accommodation, meals, and studio space - August 28, 2026.
Ford Philanthropy Fellowship - Leadership development and mentorship program for community leaders with organizations under 5 years of age, in Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, and Vietnam - August 15, 2026.