Charitable giving: Timing, timing, timing

As a nonprofit professional, understandably, you spend a lot of “communication energy” explaining why your mission matters. Donors need to hear stories of impact, learn about outcomes, and understand what their gifts make possible. Yet there is another factor that often drives charitable giving just as strongly as the “why,” and it receives far less attention: timing.

Donors do not decide only whether to give. They also decide when. Crucial timing decisions are influenced by patterns that are surprisingly consistent. Some donors act around tax moments and financial planning cycles. Others give when life events prompt reflection—retirement, a milestone birthday, the sale of a business, the death of a loved one, or a moment of personal gratitude. Still others give when they feel a sense of urgency or a clear opportunity to help solve a problem. Understanding these triggers can help your organization communicate in ways that align with donor readiness.

Here are a few tips to consider as you activate your fundraising efforts for 2026:

Donors who work closely with attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors often make charitable decisions as part of broader planning conversations. That means that your organization’s credibility, clarity, and stewardship story matter not only to the donor but also to the advisors who help the donor evaluate options.

Donors tend to respond well to simple calls to action that reduce decision fatigue, especially during busy seasons, such as the weeks leading up to tax time and year-end. Clear giving options, predictable touchpoints, and practical information about how to give can remove friction that otherwise delays action.

Timing also matters for donors who give from non-cash assets. Gifts of appreciated stock, Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs (for donors who are age 70 ½ or older), and gifts of complex assets require processing time and coordination. Even donors who want to give may postpone doing so if they feel the process will be difficult. When you regularly communicate that you can accept a variety of gift types—often with Kitsap Community Foundation’s support—donors are more likely to act when the moment is right rather than waiting until the end of the year.

Kitsap Community Foundation is happy to serve as a sounding board as you evaluate donor timing patterns. We can also serve as a partner when donors want to support your organization through an endowment or other fund structure, or when a donor is considering a non-cash gift that would be difficult for your nonprofit to handle directly.

Here’s the key takeaway: As you are rounding out your communications calendar for the coming months, consider adding a simple question to your strategy discussions: What are the moments when your donors are most likely to be ready? When nonprofits match compelling impact stories with an understanding of donor timing, fundraising becomes not only more effective, but also more respectful of how donors actually make decisions.