Building Year-End Momentum: START 2025 STRONG

By Lara Gopp
Marketing Manager| Fortify Foundation

At Fortify Foundation, we’re driven by a singular mission: to see Christian schools financially sustained for the future. As the year comes to a close, Pre-K–12 Christian schools have an unparalleled opportunity to inspire reflection, celebrate impact, and invite support. With strategic end-of-year engagement, schools can deepen community bonds and position themselves for success in 2025. Through our partnership model, Fortify equips Christian schools with the fundraising and marketing resources necessary to establish sustainable endowments, ensuring financial stability and the future of faith-based education. Here are some examples how to maximize these opportunities to close 2024 strong and start 2025 with momentum.

End 2024 with High-Impact, Mission-Driven Storytelling

Think beyond traditional fundraising appeals. Mission-driven stories are at the heart of any successful year-end campaign, and this time of year calls for stories that connect on a deep emotional level.

• Create a “Faces of Faith” Series: Instead of a single testimonial, spotlight individual students, parents, or teachers in a series that unfolds over December. Each story can highlight a unique aspect of how the school shapes lives, with the final post tying together their shared values and concluding with a call to action.
  
• Leverage Alumni Video Testimonies: Gather short video testimonials from alumni who can speak about how their time at your school prepared them for their current faith journey. Personal stories from alumni can be incredibly powerful, especially when shared via social media or through a virtual alumni “homecoming” event.

Creative storytelling can shift donors from passive interest to active involvement, especially when they see how their support makes transformative, lifelong impacts.

Cast a Vision for 2025 that Engages Supporters as Mission Partners

Year-end isn’t just about looking back; it’s an opportunity to excite your community about the future. Sharing a clear vision for 2025 can help your school inspire support that goes beyond immediate needs.

• Launch a “Building Tomorrow Together” Campaign: Design a mini-campaign around key goals for 2025—such as program expansions or new resources. Use visuals like mock-ups of new classrooms, a “sneak peek” video tour of future projects, or interviews with faculty sharing their excitement for what’s ahead.
  
• Highlight Specific Giving Outcomes: Show how gifts of specific amounts can fund actual items on your wish list (e.g., “$50 funds one month of new STEM supplies,” or “$1,000 helps underwrite a teacher’s continuing education”). Giving goals tied to tangible items inspire confidence that donations directly support impactful growth.

A compelling vision for 2025 turns year-end giving into an invitation to be part of something exciting, motivating supporters to contribute as part of a meaningful journey.

Develop a Multi-Touchpoint Campaign That Sustains Engagement into January

A powerful multi-channel campaign keeps your mission top-of-mind and allows you to maintain momentum from December into January. With a planned sequence of communication, you can stay connected and build a sense of continuity into the new year.

• Orchestrate a “31 Days of Impact” Campaign: Share one impactful story or achievement each day through December and the beginning of January. For instance, you might share a testimonial from a scholarship recipient one day, followed by a highlight of a successful school program the next. Each post can lead naturally into a reminder of how supporters can be part of making more impact happen.
  
• Use a Countdown and Milestone Updates: Create a countdown to New Year’s Eve on social media that builds anticipation. Start with highlights of your year and update progress toward your fundraising goal every few days. Transition this into a “New Year, New Goals” series in January, sharing quick updates on projects or new initiatives for the year ahead.

Multi-touchpoint campaigns with interactive elements and countdowns keep your school front and center, inviting engagement that moves seamlessly from December into January.

Build a Sense of Community-Centric Engagement for Lasting Connection

To create momentum, build a sense of belonging and unity with your school community. Donors should feel like essential parts of the school’s ongoing story, not just financial contributors.

• Start a “Family Circle” Series: Use videos, photos, and quotes from students, teachers, and families to reinforce that your school is a “family of faith.” One idea: have students write notes of thanks to donors, then share these on social media with quotes like, “Because of you, I can study in a Christian school.” You can also feature notes of prayer, where students share how they’re praying for the school’s supporters.
  
• Launch a Virtual Prayer Circle: Create a weekly virtual prayer meeting in December and early January. Invite parents, faculty, alumni, and even current students to pray together over the mission and goals for the new year. It’s a unique way to foster community and faith-based involvement that extends beyond financial contributions.

When supporters feel like they’re part of a true community, their connection to your mission becomes more personal and enduring.

Host a Vision-Casting Event to Inspire Giving and Set the Tone for 2025

An end-of-year event is a powerful tool for rallying your supporters around a shared vision. Whether in person or virtual, this gathering can be a defining moment that inspires involvement for the coming year.

• Host a Virtual “Future of Faith” Gala: Close 2024 with an online event that’s part celebration, part vision-casting. Start with student or alumni testimonials, followed by a presentation on key goals for 2025. Encourage interaction by inviting questions and sharing success stories that highlight the impact of donor support.
  
• Offer “Behind-the-Scenes” Previews: Give supporters an exclusive look at upcoming projects or initiatives. If you’re expanding the campus or adding a new program, show virtual walkthroughs or renderings, or have a Q&A with teachers involved in the project. This makes supporters feel involved in the school’s future at a deeper level.

Inspiring vision-casting events, whether large or small, are a meaningful way to foster enthusiasm and commitment from those who care about your school’s growth and mission.

Personalize Year-End and Early 2025 Outreach for Key Donors and Families

In today’s philanthropic landscape, personalized follow-ups go a long way in building lasting donor relationships. For Christian schools, a personal connection can mean the difference between one-time support and long-term commitment.

• Segmented “Journey Messages”: Develop segmented messaging based on donor history, engagement level, and family involvement. For instance, send parents a recap that includes specific thanks for participating in events, while major donors might receive updates on projects they helped fund.
  
• Send Handwritten Thank-You Cards: For top donors, faculty can write personalized thank-you cards explaining how their contributions impact students and school programs. Some schools even encourage students to make thank-you art for select donors, a heartfelt gesture that makes a lasting impression.

Personalized gestures help donors feel truly appreciated, building deeper, more committed connections to your school.

Encourage Early 2025 Giving with a Clear Call to Action

Close your campaign with a specific, inspirational call to action that carries from December into the early months of 2025. Early commitments can stabilize funding and lay a foundation for the entire year.

• Position Giving as a “First Fruits” Opportunity: Frame the beginning of 2025 as an opportunity to “give first fruits” or start the year with purpose, inviting donors to commit in faith. This approach aligns with biblical principles and invites early action in the spirit of stewardship.
  
• Highlight Recurring Giving Options: January is a great time to emphasize recurring gifts, inviting donors to commit to monthly support. Highlight that a monthly gift of a manageable amount, like $25, can go a long way, providing stability and long-term impact.

A clear, faith-aligned call to action encourages early 2025 giving, helping your school start the year with strong support.At Fortify Foundation, we understand that year-end momentum is crucial for a strong start to the new year. By combining gratitude, compelling storytelling, and an inspiring vision, you can finish 2024 with purpose and set up a dynamic 2025. We’re here to support your efforts with the tools and resources needed to establish lasting financial stability, so your mission can thrive for years to come. Together, let’s build a future where faith-based education endures and impacts generations to come.

Contact us for more information.