Year-End Fundraising Fast-Track

Get unstuck. Build your plan. Breathe easier. 

When capacity runs thin, campaigns get messy

When year-end fundraising falls apart or falls flat, it’s usually because there’s not enough capacity, experience, or strategy to carry it through.

Maybe you’re:

  • A solo ED holding the whole thing yourself.

  • Running a nonprofit without a dedicated development team.

  • New to fundraising and trying to figure out what comes first.

And then the practical questions pile up:

  • In what order should I plan things?

  • How many emails should I actually send?

  • How do I segment donors so they receive a personalized message?

  • How do I keep equity and inclusion front and center?

  • And seriously… how do I get my office chair to stop leaning too far back?

Wherever you’re starting from, the overwhelm is real, but all you need is a clear plan you can actually execute..

I’ve been there — and I know the way through

I’m Nel Taylor (they/them, he/him), and I help nonprofits turn the chaos of “where do we even start?” into clear, strategic, and surprisingly creative campaigns. With 14 years of nonprofit fundraising and leadership under my belt, I don’t just hand you the standard playbook — together, we design a creative plan that fits your organization, your community, and stands out in a busy giving season.

I don’t do copy-and-paste campaigns or give generic advice. You deserve a roadmap that feels like it was built for you, because it was.

How we’ll do it

Over two focused working sessions (or three shorter ones if you’re in Give!Guide), we’ll:

  • Strategize a campaign that plays to your strengths and values.

  • Decide who’s doing what, so staff, board, and volunteers know their roles.

  • Map out your communications strategy and calendar.

  • Build systems that make the whole thing plug-and-play.

If you want events or business partnerships in the mix, we can fold that in too. The goal: a custom, actionable plan you can pick up and run with.

And you don’t just get a plan, you also get a follow-up coaching check-in to keep you moving and a debrief at the end to lock in what worked.

What you’ll walk away with

By the time we’re done, you’ll walk away with more than a plan. You’ll have:

  • Relief: the ability to exhale because you know you’re not missing any pieces.

  • Clarity: a plug-and-play roadmap that anyone can execute, this year and next.

  • Momentum: the confidence to keep donors engaged through the campaign and into the next year.

  • Sustainability: a repeatable formula for year-end campaigns you can build on, even if your team changes.

  • Impact: the financial stability that comes from a strong year-end finish.

Fast-track your fundraising

Let’s make your fundraising easier and more effective, and build a foundation that sets you up for success this year and every year after.

What else can we do together?

I’m glad you asked! For organizations in Willamette Week’s Give! Guide (Portland), we’ll have more collaboration time together (3 three-hour sessions) to discuss Give!Guide specific messaging, obtaining and utilizing incentives, partnering with other organizations and businesses, and create a gift entry workflow from Give! Guide reports. 

Any organization can also add an additional 2 hour training about business partners and events. You’ll learn about how to reach out to businesses and secure sponsorships, beneficiary events, and in-kind, and how you can plan a donor engagement event, volunteer day, or Giving Tuesday fund-a-thon.

You’ve got questions? I’ve got answers!

  • Yes! Together we will build a custom campaign strategy that honors your capacity and the resources you are able to invest. In the workshop bonuses, you’ll be prepared with tools to set your board up for fundraising success, and with the ability to add extra coaching sessions with me, I’ll be there to help you along the way. 

  • Yes! This workshop is great for:

    • Development professionals who have worked on year-end campaigns but haven’t managed one yet

    • Development professionals doing their first year-end fundraising campaign

    • Development professionals who have done a basic letter campaign but are looking to deepen engagement and impact as well as weave in community centric fundraising principles

    If you’re a seasoned development professional with a tried and true year-end method that consistently brings results, you may not need this intensive workshop, but reach out to me about coaching packages if you’re looking for a thought partner or new strategy ideas.

  • Yes! Last year, I used these same methods with a client that had a 3 person staff and their campaign well exceeded their goal.

  • Yes! If you're in the Portland metro area I would love to come to your office and work side-by-side! And if virtual is your jam, we can do that too! Half and half? No problem! I want to accommodate the learning method that works best for you!

  • The workshop includes 4 seats, but you can add up to 3 more for $200/seat. Larger groups have so many more amazing ideas, but this does make trainings a little longer, and I want to make sure we cover everything you need in our short sessions together.

    So bring your fellow development staff, board or committee members, or key members who will be supporting your campaign. We can record our session for those who can't attend.

  • Yes! Organizations in Give! Guide will have 3 three-hour sessions so that we can weave Give! Guide strategy into all of the workshop components. I have run several successful Give! Guide campaigns, all of which have resulted in the organization being chosen to participate again, sometimes for a three-year membership

  • For the standard package, the early bird discounted price is $3,500 and full price after that is $4,000. The Give! Guide package is $4,000 early-bird and $4,500 after that. There are options for add-ons like adding more attendees to the workshop, additional coaching sessions, and an additional events workshop. 

    BIPOC* clients receive a 10% discount

    *BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. This applies to organizations who are BIPOC led, or individual clients who are BIPOC such as an executive director, or development or communications staff member

  • Yes! I can help you shift your mindset around money and wealth redistribution as well as teach you strategies that you will feel comfortable and confident with. I’m all about healthy money mindsets for fundraisers.

  • There are only 5 spots available for this package, and they will be first come, first served. The early bird rate ends September 15th, but you'll be able to sign up until October 31st, provided there are still spots available.