Beat the Summer Slump: 5 Nonprofit Engagement Tactics That Actually Work

Most nonprofits shut down in July.
They assume donors are on vacation.
While everyone else is taking a break,
smart ministries are deepening relationships.

Fundraising tallies are traditionally the lowest during the months of June and July.
But this creates the perfect opportunity for relationship-building
when your supporters aren't being bombarded
by appeals from other organizations.

As you build your strategies, keep the four S's at the center of everything you do:

Segment donor lists in June
Steward relationships in July,
Share impact in August and
Show up consistently through September and beyond. 

Here are 5 things your ministry should do this Summer:

1. Host intimate "thank you" events

Skip the big gala planning. Host small coffee meetups where 8-12 donors can actually talk to your leadership team. These conversations build the foundation for major gifts later.

2. Create behind-the-scenes content

People crave authenticity in summer. Share staff devotionals, show your team preparing for fall programs, or document a typical day at your ministry. Raw, unpolished content performs better than overproduced videos.

3. Send handwritten notes

When was the last time you got real mail that wasn't a bill? A donor stewardship plan is a long-term strategy to strengthen those relationships to earn repeat donations from these individuals. This process involves thanking donors, learning about them as individuals, and demonstrating their impact through follow-up communications. 

4. Plan your year-end campaign now

If you start planning your year-end fundraising campaign now, you'll have more time to get it just right. You can begin by determining your target audiences and segments, drafting your appeal letters, planning your Giving Tuesday social media strategy, and more. 

5. Clean your donor database

With most large mailings taking place at the end of the year, you want to make sure your mailing lists are up to date. Some of the best ways to clean up your database include running an NCOA cleaning, merging your duplicates, and checking for missing data. 

The ministries that thrive in 2025 won't be the ones that shut down in summer.
They'll be the ones that used July to build relationships while everyone else was sleeping.

What's your ministry doing this Summer to stay connected with supporters?