Fundraising Fails You’ll Regret (And How to Fix Them)

The highs of fundraising are sweet. But the lows? Not so much. If you're in the nonprofit space, you've probably learned by now that fundraising can be a tough ride. And in the chaos of the nonprofit grind, it’s easy to slip into habits that lead to fundraising fails. Some of these are so common that they almost feel inevitable, but trust me, they’re avoidable.

Let’s break down the biggest fundraising fails I see—and most importantly, how you can fix them before it’s too late.

We all know the drill. Year-end giving is a huge push for most organizations. Everyone's running full steam ahead to meet their fundraising goals before December 31st. But here’s the thing: you cannot rest after New Year’s.

Too many nonprofits drop the ball once the excitement of year-end giving has passed. Donor engagement doesn't end with a thank-you email or a tax receipt. If you neglect your supporters right after they've given, you're asking for trouble.

The Fix: Set up a year-round engagement strategy. Schedule quarterly updates, personal check-ins, and reminders that their donations are making a direct impact. Keep them invested in your mission—not just their tax deductions.

Here’s the deal: grants aren’t magic. They can be a valuable tool in your fundraising toolkit, but too many organizations get into the habit of chasing every grant they hear about without a real strategy in place. If you’re simply applying for grants because you need the money, you’re going to be constantly disappointed.

The Fix: Before applying for any grant, have a strategic plan. Do your research. What kinds of grants align with your mission? Which funders are the most likely to support your programs? Focus on building relationships with these funders, not just sending out applications. If you don't have a grant strategy in place, you’re throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks.

In the rush to acquire new donors, nonprofits often forget to focus on their existing base. Here’s the hard truth: it costs more to acquire a new donor than to retain an existing one. If you’re constantly focused on bringing in fresh faces without nurturing the relationships you already have, you’re digging yourself into a hole.

The Fix: Allocate time, energy, and resources to donor retention efforts. Create stewardship strategies to engage your donors beyond the donation page. Make them feel valued, appreciated, and integral to your mission. You’ll find that keeping donors around longer will lead to greater returns down the line.

It’s easy to let donor communications slip when you’re busy with other tasks—events, programs, donor research, etc. But if you’re not staying in touch with your supporters, you risk becoming irrelevant to them. Let’s face it: your donors are busy too. They’ll forget about you if you’re not giving them a reason to stay connected.

The Fix: Regularly communicate with your donors, even when you don’t have an immediate ask. Share updates, success stories, and impact reports that highlight how their donations are making a difference. Keep them in the loop, and they’ll be more likely to stick around.

Too many nonprofits operate on gut feeling rather than data. If you’re not analyzing donor behavior, fundraising performance, and engagement metrics, how do you know what’s working? Your donors are giving you valuable feedback through their actions—don’t ignore it.

The Fix: Get serious about using data to inform your strategy. Track donor retention rates, analyze campaign performance, and use insights to adjust your approach. If you don’t understand why donors give (or stop giving), you’re flying blind.

Don’t let these fundraising fails derail your nonprofit. If you want to make sure your organization avoids these common mistakes—and sets itself up for success—take action today.

Book a Fix Your Fundraising audit or sign up for an upcoming workshop to learn how to fine-tune your strategy.