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This episode is brought to you by the The Monthly Giving Summit, a free event taking place February 25 – 26 2026! The only virtual summit where nonprofits unite to master monthly giving, attract committed believers, and fund the future with confidence. Learn more and register here.

I Didn’t Expect This Year to Go This Way: Reflections & Looking Ahead

There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that comes from a year that moves too fast.

Not because it was bad, but because it held everything at once. Joy and grief. Momentum and fatigue. Big wins followed closely by moments that quietly took your breath away.

For me, 2025 was that kind of year.

And if you felt that same whiplash, the feeling of living inside constant change while still showing up for your work, your mission, and your people, this reflection is for you.

Before we rush into planning, goal setting, or yet another “new year strategy,” I want to pause. Because reflection isn’t indulgent – it’s strategic. It’s how we decide what we carry forward and what we finally let go.

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The Practice That Changed How I See My Year

Recently, I started doing something deceptively simple: scrolling back through my calendar.

January. Spring. Summer. Fall.

Not just the big milestones but the meetings, the deadlines, the moments I quietly survived without anyone noticing. Looking at a year this way reveals patterns we don’t see when we’re living inside the chaos.

The questions I’m sitting with and inviting you to consider are:

• Where did I grow this year?
• What am I genuinely proud of?
• And where did I spend energy I don’t want to spend again in 2026?

That last question matters more than we think. Because so much of this year felt reactive. Life was lifing. The world was shifting, plans changed, and many of us were simply adapting in real time.

Recognizing that is the first step toward doing things differently.

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The Power of Community (and Betting on Yourself)

One of the biggest surprises of 2025 was watching the Monthly Giving Summit grow beyond anything I imagined.

What started as a hopeful attempt to replicate the energy of our first summit became something electric, full of generosity, engagement, and genuine community. People didn’t just attend; they showed up for one another.

That momentum sparked something else too: deeper, more hands-on work.

This year, I worked 1:1 with 14 organizations through VIP intensives, helping teams:

• Launch or refine monthly giving programs
• Optimize donation pages
• Build retention-focused annual plans
• Create clarity around recurring revenue strategies

What stood out wasn’t just the tactics, it was how hungry organizations are for sustainability, not just survival.

And yes, there were surreal, pinch-me moments too, like flying to Italy to speak at Festival del Fundraising, or keynoting major philanthropic forums here at home. Opportunities I never would have predicted but ones that came from staying committed to a clear mission.

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Holding Space for the Hardest Parts

Alongside the professional highs were some deeply personal lows.

Two IVF cycles. Two failed outcomes.

And I know I’m not alone in that kind of private grief. So many nonprofit leaders and fundraisers carry personal heartbreak quietly while continuing to serve others.

That’s the paradox of this work, it is profoundly meaningful and profoundly hard.

Still, we show up. Because we believe in something better. Because community matters. Because stories matter. Because hope matters.

And so do you.

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The Data That Should Change How We Plan 2026

Reflection isn’t just emotional—it’s analytical too.

This year’s M+R Benchmarks Report reinforced what many of us are feeling on the ground:

• Monthly giving now accounts for 31% of all online revenue.
  If you’ve been waiting for permission to prioritize recurring giving—this is it. Sustainable revenue isn’t optional anymore; it’s foundational.

• December still represents roughly 40% of annual nonprofit revenue.
  If this season feels intense, that’s because it is. The real question is: how do we prepare earlier so December doesn’t always feel like a sprint?

• Donation page conversion rates hover around 11%.
  That’s not a minor issue—it’s a massive opportunity. Small optimizations can unlock significant revenue without asking donors to give more.

The takeaway? We don’t need more hustle. We need better systems. The kind that take time to build—but pay dividends long after they’re in place.

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Looking Ahead Without Burning Out

As the year winds down, there’s an understandable urge to pull back, to shrink, to rest, to disengage.

And rest is essential. But so is intention.

The final days of December are historically the biggest giving days of the year. Don’t disappear. Schedule the emails. Send the reminder. Make the invitation clear and thoughtful.

Then. Rest deeply.

For me, rest looks like visioning. Quiet planning. Dreaming about what could be if I worked more on the business than in it. Those reflective moments are where the best ideas for the future begin.

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A Gentle Invitation

As you move into the final days of this year, my hope is that you give yourself space to reflect honestly and without judgment.

Notice what energized you. Name what drained you. Decide what deserves your attention next.

Because how you spend your energy matters.

And if 2025 taught us anything, it’s that sustainable impact just like sustainable fundraising, doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when we slow down enough to choose it.

Resources & Links

Already have a monthly giving program? The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind starts in January and is just for you.

Register now for the FREE Monthly Giving Summit on February 25-26th, the only virtual event where nonprofits unite to master monthly giving, attract committed believers, and fund the future with confidence.

My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.

Join The Sustainers, my Slack community for nonprofit professionals growing and scaling a recurring giving program.

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