New calendar for charities: boost your online fundraising this autumn

The year may already be well underway, but for many charities, the most strategic months of the year are still ahead.

 

As we head into September, it’s the perfect time for charities of all sizes – whether you’re a local organisation or a national nonprofit – to look ahead, refocus, and prepare for the crucial final stretch of the year. Autumn is the ideal season to reconnect with supporters, re-energise your teams, and build the momentum that will carry you through the all-important end-of-year giving season.

 

To help you plan effectively and make the most of this key period, digital fundraising platform iRaiser has created a free, practical resource: a charity fundraising calendar for the second half of 2025.  The calendar shares key dates and fundraising ideas to help charities tailor their fundraising strategy to the opportune moments in the latter half of the year, creating the best chances to boost support and drive donations.

 

Download the calendar here 

 

 

A must-have resource to plan your next online fundraising campaigns

Planning ahead is key to running successful fundraising activities throughout the year. Whether you’re mapping out your year-end online appeal, preparing for Giving Tuesday or launching a seasonal peer to peer fundraising campaign, this calendar will help you stay organised, inspired, and on track.

 

What’s inside?

• A month-by-month overview of international awareness days, seasonal milestones, and trending moments you can tap into to make your fundraising campaigns more relevant and impactful

• Inspiring ideas for online charity fundraising activities, whether it’s engaging your community during the quieter summer months or designing a compelling, multi-channel year-end campaign

• Smart reminders and strategic tips to boost donor engagement, personalise your communications, and maximise results across every touchpoint

 

Three additional resources to strengthen your online fundraising efforts

In addition to the calendar itself, you’ll gain access to three ready-to-use bonuses designed to help your charity fine-tune its online fundraising efforts this autumn:

• A summer checklist to keep your activities on track and maintain donor engagement, even during traditionally slower months

• A CRM clean-up checklist, to help you segment, declutter, and strengthen your donor database before launching major appeals

• A complete 9-step year-end fundraising guide, packed with actionable advice to help you craft a high-performing campaign during the most generous season of the year

Drawing on insights from a wide range of organisations, the calendar is designed to support planning and coordination across fundraising, digital and comms teams – regardless of organisational size or structure.

 

 

How to align your digital fundraising strategy for the year-end giving season

 

As the year-end giving season approaches, now is the ideal moment for charities to strengthen their digital fundraising strategy.

 

More and more supporters are giving and engaging online. This makes digital tools and channels not just an option, but essential. Charities that prioritise digital fundraising see better results: more online donations, higher conversion rates, and stronger long-term relationships with their supporters.

 

Even small changes can yield significant results. Adding one-click payment options, optimising donation pages for mobile, or sending appeals at the right time based on donor behaviour can help increase results quickly.

 

Moreover, digital fundraising provides charities with valuable insights. By analysing online interactions, organisations can better understand what motivates their donors. This allows for smarter segmentation, more personalised communication, and improved donor engagement over time.

 

 

How to enhance the donor experience to meet your fundraising goals

 

As your year-end campaigns take shape, it’s essential to ensure your donor experience is just as thoughtful and streamlined as your message. In today’s digital fundraising landscape, supporters expect more than a simple donation form. They seek a journey that is intuitive, emotionally engaging, and aligned with their values.

 

For charities, this means considering every step of the donor journey, from the first visit to your fundraising page to the thank-you message that follows contributions. It includes integrating seamless payment methods, designing mobile-first donation forms, and adapting communications to different donor profiles and campaign milestones.

 

When done well, these elements improve short-term results, contribute to higher conversion rates, stronger donor retention, and increased lifetime value. More importantly, they help build trust and deepen the emotional connection with your cause.

 

To help charities strengthen the donor experience, the iRaiser Fundraising Calendar offers practical strategies you can implement right away. You’ll find timely ideas for integrating drive-to-web tactics, mobile-optimised donation forms, and personalised supporter journeys, all designed to remove friction, increase engagement, and boost performance during the busiest fundraising months of the year.

 

By applying these insights, organisations can not only raise more funds but also build stronger, longer-lasting relationships with their communities, laying the groundwork for sustained impact well beyond December.

 

 

How to prepare for year-end: align teams and tools

 

Autumn is the perfect time to align your strategy across departments – communications, digital, and fundraising – so that your team can launch powerful campaigns when it matters most.

 

Use the coming months to:

• Make sure your online fundraising tools are fully operational and mobile-friendly.

• Optimise donation journeys for conversion and accessibility.

• Engage lapsed donors with reactivation emails or personalised giving options.

• Test content, visuals, and calls to action based on supporter feedback and performance data.

With tools like iRaiser’s 2025 charity calendar, your organisation can take a proactive approach, turning seasonal moments into meaningful giving opportunities.

 

Download the calendar

 

 

Make the most of autumn’s online fundraising potential

 

As we approach the final months of the year, this is an ideal moment for charities to review their strategy, align their efforts, and prepare with confidence for the key fundraising moments ahead.

 

Whether you’re aiming to boost online donations, keep your supporters engaged, or simply streamline your next campaign, autumn is a season full of potential. By approaching it with the right mindset and resources, your charity can end 2025 on a high note.

 

Digital fundraising is no longer a “nice-to-have” – it’s a core component of any successful fundraising strategy. The charities that thrive in the coming months will be those that plan early, act strategically, and invest in both the donor experience and internal coordination.