Your Best Year Yet
Setting Goals and Creating Systems for Accountability
When I was leading a team, we made it a point to schedule a day in December for a team retreat. We’d get out of the office, grab a coffee, and map out the year together. It was one of my favorite traditions because it gave everyone a chance to share their ideas and perspectives while also celebrating our wins from the past year. It became a time to reconnect with our mission, laugh about the challenges we’d overcome, and align on what we wanted to achieve in the months ahead.
When I was a solo ED, I kept this practice alive, just on a smaller scale. I’d take myself to my favorite coffee shop, where the cozy hum of holiday music and the scent of sugar cookie lattes set the perfect scene. I’d review the year, reflect on what went well, and dream about what I wanted the next year to look like. Those December planning sessions became a gift I gave myself—time to step back, imagine the possibilities, and create a roadmap for success.
Whether you’re leading a team or navigating as a solo ED, December is the perfect time to pause, reflect, and set goals for the year ahead. There’s nothing magical about January 1st. In fact, waiting until the new year to plan often means you’re already behind.
Give yourself (and your team) the space to imagine your best year yet. Let’s walk through how to set goals and create systems for accountability so that you’re not just setting intentions but making them happen.
Step 1: Reflect on the Year and Celebrate Wins
Before setting new goals, carve out time for reflection. Whether it’s a solo day of planning or a team retreat, December is ideal for looking back at what worked, what didn’t, and what you’d do differently.
Ask yourself (or your team):
What are our biggest wins this year?
What didn’t go as planned, and what can we learn from it?
Did we meet the goals we set at the start of the year?
Take time to celebrate successes, big and small. Recognizing what went well is motivating and sets a positive tone for planning the year ahead.
Step 2: Review Your Strategic Plan
Every goal you set should align with your organization’s larger vision. Dust off your strategic plan (or create one if you don’t have one yet!) and identify the priorities for the coming year.
Key questions to guide your review:
What’s the most important focus for 2025 to move our strategic plan forward?
Are there any emerging opportunities or challenges we need to account for?
How do we align fundraising, marketing, and program goals with our mission?
Step 3: Set SMART Goals
Goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART). Instead of saying, “We want to increase donations,” set a goal like:
“Raise $200,000 in unrestricted funds by December 31, 2025, through a combination of corporate sponsorships, individual giving, and events.”
Breaking goals down into measurable outcomes ensures you’ll know when you’re on track—and when you’re not.
Step 4: Break Down Goals into Tactics and Actions
Big goals are daunting without a roadmap. Once you’ve set your goals, break them into smaller tactics, and then break those tactics into specific, actionable steps.
Example Goal: Raise $200,000 in unrestricted funds.
Tactic 1: Launch a monthly giving campaign.
Action: Develop campaign messaging by January 15.
Action: Create a landing page and email series by February 1.
Tactic 2: Secure $50,000 in corporate sponsorships.
Action: Research prospects by March 1.
Action: Create a sponsorship pitch deck by April 1.
Tactic 3: Host a fall gala.
Action: Book the venue by February 15.
Action: Secure keynote speaker by April 1.
Step 5: Map Actions on a 12-Month Calendar
A key reason goals fail is trying to do too much at once. By spreading your actions across a 12-month calendar, you prevent burnout and ensure steady progress.
For example:
January-March: Focus on planning (messaging, prospecting, calendar development).
April-June: Execute spring campaigns and secure corporate sponsorships.
July-September: Plan fall events and ramp up year-end fundraising.
October-December: Launch Giving Tuesday and year-end appeals.
This is where the Fundraising Focus Digital Planner becomes an invaluable tool. It’s designed to help nonprofit leaders and fundraisers stay organized, intentional, and accountable. With yearly, monthly, and weekly layouts, the planner allows you to map out your entire calendar while keeping key priorities front and center.
Step 6: Plan Each Month and Week Intentionally
Now that you’ve mapped your actions across the year, take time each month to plan what’s ahead. Break monthly priorities into weekly tasks, keeping them focused on what moves you closer to your goals.
Use these guiding questions to stay intentional:
What must happen this week to stay on track for our monthly goals?
What tasks can I delegate?
Are my daily priorities aligned with our larger goals, or am I just putting out fires?
Using the Fundraising Focus Planner’s weekly pages can help you hone in on your priorities, ensuring that your daily tasks drive your long-term objectives rather than reacting to distractions.
Step 7: Create Accountability Systems
Goals are only as effective as the systems that hold you accountable to them. Here’s how:
Schedule Regular Check-Ins: Hold weekly or monthly team meetings to review progress and troubleshoot challenges.
Use Tools for Tracking: Whether it’s a CRM, project management software, or the Fundraising Focus Planner, make sure you’re tracking progress in a centralized, visible place.
Celebrate Progress: Even incremental wins should be recognized and celebrated to keep morale high.
Reassess Quarterly: Goals may need to shift as circumstances change. Build flexibility into your plan by reviewing and adjusting quarterly.
Why December Matters
There’s nothing magical about January 1, but starting the year with clear goals and a mapped-out plan gives you a huge advantage. When you wait to set goals in January, you’re already behind. Taking a day (or even a few hours) in December to align your team, reflect, and plan can be transformational for the year ahead.
Remember: Success doesn’t come from doing everything at once. It comes from consistent, intentional progress, little by little.
Ready to Set Your Goals?
If you’re ready to take your planning to the next level, the Fundraising Focus Digital Planner is here to help. With tools to map out your year, track donor relationships, and prioritize what matters most, it’s your roadmap to success in 2025.
Let’s make this your best year yet!
What’s your top goal for the new year? Send me a message—I’d love to cheer you on!
