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Your 2026 fundraising calendar: What to do each month for maximum donations

By Team BetterWorld on January 13, 2026

If you’re still planning fundraising month by month, you’re likely missing out on big opportunities and burning out your donors. Many nonprofits fall into the trap of cramming too many appeals into year-end or trying to build an event from scratch with only a few weeks’ notice. That’s a recipe for stress, lower turnout, and missed donations.

The solution? A well-planned fundraising calendar. It lets you align campaigns with donor habits, seasonal giving peaks, and key national days such as GivingTuesday, Mother’s Day, and National Nonprofit Day.

To help you build that structure, we’ve created a full 2026 fundraising calendar. Feel free to customize it for your audience, your budget, and your team. Treat it as your roadmap for more innovative, more effective fundraising all year long.

January: Start with stewardship and planning

Begin the year by showing appreciation. Thank your year-end donors with personal notes, impact summaries, or short videos. Early January is also a great time to promote monthly giving, as many donors are thinking about their resolutions. Internally, take time to analyze your 2025 fundraising data and set clear goals for 2026.

February: Make it about connection

Valentine’s Day and its offshoots, such as Galentine’s or Palentine’s, are ideal for peer-to-peer or social media-driven campaigns. If your donor activity slows in winter, plan a virtual winter gala or a short donation-matching drive. February is also a good month to begin brainstorming ideas for your spring events.

March: Spotlight Women’s History Month and spring campaigns

Leverage Women’s History Month to highlight stories about women impacted by your mission or to launch “HERstory”-style fundraisers. You can also host a Mardi Gras–themed fundraiser to energize supporters. Spring offers a natural opening for membership drives, peer-to-peer campaigns, and fun runs. March weather also encourages people to spend more time outdoors.

April: Spring engagement and Earth Day

Focus on spring momentum and hands-on engagement. Use Earth Day (April 22) as the anchor for fundraising and volunteer activity, especially for environmental, education, or community-based missions. April is a good month to invite supporters to get involved beyond giving, which strengthens relationships and sets up stronger fundraising results later in the year.

May: Celebrate moms and honor those who have served

Launch tribute campaigns around Mother’s Day, offering options to donate in honor of or in memory of a mother figure. Use May’s Military Appreciation Month to engage supporters by recognizing veterans and service families. This can tie into Memorial Day on May 25. May is also a popular month for outdoor donor events, such as bike rides and picnics.

June: Promote inclusion and family giving

June brings several occasions, including Pride Month, Father’s Day (June 21), Juneteenth (June 19), and the Summer Solstice. Plan a Pride-themed fundraiser or community event. Invite donations in honor of fathers, social justice organizations. Juneteenth presents a strong opportunity for storytelling and donor engagement. Consider a summer walkathon or “athon” event near June 21 when the days are longest.

July: Focus on donor relationships

July is typically a quiet fundraising month, so focus on strengthening donor relationships. Around Independence Day, create a themed campaign centered on values like community. A picnic, fun run, or “freedom to give” digital campaign can add seasonal flavor.

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August: Back-to-school time

If your mission ties to education or youth, use August to host a back-to-school supply drive. Offer a low-lift virtual fundraiser that appeals to families before their fall schedules kick in. Reinforce your recurring donation options with a “set it and forget it” ask. Recognize International Youth Day (August 12) and Women’s Equality Day (August 26) where relevant. Most importantly, finalize your Giving Tuesday and year-end strategies.

September: Kick Off Giving Season Prep

With Labor Day and back-to-school momentum, September is the perfect month to restart donor engagement. If you’re planning a fall gala or GivingTuesday campaign, begin teasing details now. You can also highlight cause-based observances such as Hunger Action Month. By the end of September, all year-end content and dates should be mapped out.

October: Launch fall campaigns and get organized

Now’s the time to execute in-person events before colder weather hits. Use Halloween to run creative promotions—host a costume drive, pumpkin patch fundraiser, or spooky gala. Finalize donor segmentation for your holiday appeals and remind corporate partners to confirm their year-end contributions. Start sending impact previews or newsletters that show how donor dollars have helped so far in 2026.

November: Show gratitude and go all in on Giving Tuesday

Veterans Day (November 11) can be a key opportunity for service-focused nonprofits to solicit donations. Thanksgiving week is now known in the sector as “Generosity Week,” so make the most of it. Send donor thank-you messages on Thanksgiving to build goodwill. Prepare for Giving Tuesday (December 1) by setting a clear goal, securing match sponsors, and creating shareable content.

December: Drive year-end giving home

December is when giving peaks, so maximize your outreach. Launch a strong Giving Tuesday campaign on December 1, then follow with weekly appeals and reminders. Use multiple channels such as email, text, and social media to maintain visibility.

Showcase impact stories, celebrate successes, and make it easy for donors to give. Push one last campaign on December 31, which is historically the biggest online giving day of the year, thanks to tax deadlines.

2026 Month-by-Month Fundraising Calendar

Month	Key Campaigns & Actions
Jan	Thank holiday donors (annual report); launch monthly-giving drives; finalize yearly plan
Feb	Heart-themed appeals (Valentine’s/Galentine’s); winter event or peer campaign
Mar	Women’s History Month campaigns; Mardi Gras–themed gala or party; spring membership asks
Apr	Tax-season appeals (post-refunds); Earth Day fundraisers or volunteer events
May	Mother’s Day giving (honor mother figures); Memorial Day and veteran tributes; spring community events
Jun	Pride Month fundraisers; Father’s Day appeals; Juneteenth observances
Jul	Independence Day patriotic campaign; summer donor updates and stewardship; family-centered events
Aug	Back-to-school drives; summer donor touches; push for recurring gifts (support on autopilot)
Sep	Labor Day outreach; launch fall drives; announce year-end goals; prep GivingTuesday marketing
Oct	Halloween-themed event; finalize year-end strategy; board approvals for major appeals
Nov	Veterans Day campaign; Thanksgiving gratitude email; GivingTuesday (Dec 1) campaign launch
Dec	GivingTuesday (Dec 1); holiday drives (e.g., #HolidayGiving); end-of-year appeals highlighting tax deadlines

Don’t just plan 2026. Own it with BetterWorld

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