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Reignite Donor Engagement: Mid-Year Strategies To Boost Retention And Prepare For Year-End Success
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Updated - 07/29/2025
Turning quiet summer months into strategic momentum
The slower summer fundraising season is a great time of year to take stock of your donor relationships and ask, How connected do your donors feel to your mission right now?
For some nonprofits, summer is packed with programming and activity, making fall the moment to take a breath and catch up. For others who experience the dreaded “summer slump” in giving, fall marks the beginning of serious planning for the all-important year-end push. Regardless of how summer unfolds for your organization, this is a season filled with potential.
The third quarter is a hidden gem in the fundraising calendar. It provides a strategic opportunity to rebuild momentum, reengage your supporters, and create a strong runway into the most generous season of the year. In this blog, we will explore smart, practical mid-year donor engagement strategies that can boost retention, deepen donor loyalty, and energize your year-end results.
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Why Q3 matters more than you think
Q3 is not just a holding spot between campaigns. It is a pivotal time to check in with your donors, reestablish consistent communication, and build trust before the year-end flurry begins. It is your opportunity to keep your organization’s name, mission, and impact fresh on the minds of your supporters. Donors who feel informed and appreciated are far more likely to remain engaged and respond positively when the year-end appeal arrives.
Rather than letting the summer season drift by, take proactive steps to ensure your donors feel seen, valued, and informed.
Many donors are less active over the summer due to vacations, family time, or simply shifting focus away from their inboxes. But this does not mean their commitment to your mission has disappeared. With thoughtful engagement, you can make the third quarter a launch pad for success. A few timely actions in the third quarter can mean the difference between a lapsed donor and a re-engaged supporter when year-end giving rolls around.
Evaluate and segment your donor base
Take this opportunity to analyze and segment your donor data. Q3 is a great time to assess where your relationships stand and identify areas to strengthen before launching major appeals.
Make sure your fundraising team is asking:
- Who gave earlier in the year but has not been active recently?
- Which long-time donors have lapsed?
- Who are your most engaged supporters right now?
Using a platform like Bloomerang, you can group donors by giving history, recency, and frequency to deliver more meaningful, timely outreach. These insights help you focus your attention where it counts most.
Example:
A local financial literacy nonprofit used Q3 to review their lapsed donor list and discovered that many first-time donors from a spring campaign had not been contacted again. They launched a re-engagement series with a success story and a personal thank-you from a program participant.
Segmentation helps you craft the right message for the right audience, making every outreach more meaningful. Taking time to revisit your data and tailor your approach now will ensure that your upcoming campaigns are better targeted, more personal, and more likely to resonate. Donors who receive relevant communication are more inclined to re-engage and support your mission again.
Personalize and refresh your outreach
Once you understand where your donors stand, the next step is to reach out in a way that feels thoughtful and timely. The fall season is an ideal opportunity to add warmth and humanity back into your communications and reestablish the connection between your donors and the impact of their support.
Generic emails and appeals fall flat—especially in the quieter months. Fall is an ideal time to refresh and personalize your donor engagement strategy. Make your supporters feel like insiders, not just ATMs.
Consider these ideas to express appreciation to your supporters:
- Sending handwritten thank-you notes with an update on mid-year impact
- Creating personalized videos or messages from beneficiaries, employees, or board members
- Tailoring your emails by giving level and/or donor interests
Here is an example:
A youth mentoring organization sent short thank-you videos from mentees to recurring donors, and response rates to their fall update emails increased significantly.
The third quarter gives you room to build a deeper connection with your community before the busy giving season begins. Donors who receive personalized outreach that reflects their unique relationship with your organization are far more likely to stay engaged and give again. This thoughtful touch can transform a one-time gift into a lasting partnership.
Survey and listen to your donors
After reestablishing a personal connection, it is equally important to show that your organization values what donors think and feel.
Engagement is a two-way street. Fall is a great time to listen and invite your donors to share their experiences. Surveys and quick feedback polls can provide powerful insights into how donors feel about their giving journey.
Use unified giving platforms like Bloomerang to ask donors questions such as:
- What motivates you to give?
- What types of updates do you prefer?
- How can we better show our appreciation?
Here is an example:
After learning from a mid-year survey that many donors wanted impact updates via video, one community health nonprofit began including short client story clips in their newsletters. Their click-through rate doubled.
When donors feel heard, they are more likely to feel invested and stay involved. Even a brief opportunity to express their opinions can reinforce their emotional connection to your cause. By making space for authentic feedback, you demonstrate respect for their voice and invite them into the heart of your mission. This strengthens the relationship and builds a sense of partnership that will carry into future giving opportunities.
Highlight your mid-year impact
As you continue building strong two-way communication, it is essential to show donors the tangible impact they are making.
Your mission did not pause for the summer, and fall is a great time to show that progress. One of the best mid-year donor engagement strategies is to showcase how donor contributions have made an impact so far.
Consider creating a simple mid-year impact snapshot:
- Highlight key wins or milestones
- Share stories of transformation
- Include impact metrics that show progress toward annual goals
Here is an example:
A domestic violence shelter created a simple one-pager showing 1,200 nights of safe housing provided so far in the year, plus a quote from a survivor. They mailed it with a thank-you letter—no ask. The goodwill set the tone for a strong fall appeal.
These communications demonstrate transparency, reinforce trust, and build anticipation for what is still to come. When you show donors that their support has already led to meaningful outcomes, you deepen their sense of purpose and motivate continued involvement as the year-end approaches.
97% of major donors state that their #1 reason for giving is directly based on the organization’s impact. See how Social Impact Solutions can help you expand your reach.
Plan stewardship activities now for year-end readiness
As you showcase your mid-year accomplishments, it is also critical to start preparing for what is next. Fall offers the ideal conditions to begin laying the foundation for a successful year-end campaign.
Stewardship is not just about saying thank you—it is about showing impact, building trust, and creating continuity. Q3 is the perfect time to engage donors with thoughtful, relationship-building activities that make them feel seen and appreciated.
Ideas include:
- Hosting a “thank-you week” on social media with supporter shoutouts
- Sending donor “anniversary” emails to celebrate their giving history
- Scheduling mini events like donor briefings or coffee chats
Here is an example:
One environmental nonprofit invited their top 50 donors to a virtual Q&A with their conservation director. It was casual, informative, and generated several early pledges for their year-end campaign.
Even small gestures in Q3 can build emotional momentum that pays off when your end-of-year appeals go out. The more connected donors feel now, the more likely they are to respond generously when it matters most.
Make Q3 your launchpad for year-end success
Q3 is not just another quarter—it is your opportunity to refocus your donor relationships. Whether summer was busy or slow, this season invites nonprofits to approach donor relationships with fresh energy and thoughtful strategy.
Let this be the time your organization deepens relationships and inspires donor confidence. And if you are looking for tools to streamline your outreach, track impact, and strengthen donor communications, platforms like Bloomerang are here to support your success.
By applying these mid-year donor engagement strategies—personalized outreach, clear impact and storytelling, proactive planning, and authentic listening—you set the stage for meaningful engagement and long-term giving. This is your chance to stand out and build real momentum before year-end. If you want to communicate your impact and strengthen your donor relationships, Social Impact Solutions is ready to help you make your Q3 a season of meaningful connection, measurable progress, and lasting donor loyalty.
Schedule a Free Q3 Impact Review with Social Impact Solutions.
Make Q3 count. Lead with intention, communicate your impact, and strengthen donor connections that will fuel your mission for the rest of the year and beyond.
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