Setting Your Giving Goals for the New Year
Phew! We made it to the other side, Happy 2025! It’s time to circle back. At the end of last year, we talked about resetting your vision for giving in the New Year, and now it’s time to dig in! A new year brings a fresh start—a new chance to give with intention.
One of the things I’ve been thinking about lately is how we get into our spending habits. It’s been coming up as my social media feed keeps showing me reels asking, "Do you know how many subscriptions you have?" The point is, many of us have blind spots in our finances that make it hard to stay on track with our goals. Philanthropy can be the same way. Year after year, we give the same amount, to the same organizations, in the same way.
Don’t get me wrong—this is a HUGE help for nonprofits! Stable, recurring gifts are the foundation of many organizations’ work. But is that all you want your giving to accomplish? Maybe, maybe not. And it’s hard to know unless you pause to take a closer look at where your dollars are going and how you want your impact to take shape.
Reflecting on Your Past Giving
Since it’s the beginning of the year and we’re getting to tax season, you probably have (or will soon have) those documents handy, take a moment to look at where you gave in 2024.
What motivated those gifts? Were they gifts to long-time favorites whose work you love? New organizations you discovered through an event or campaign?
How did it feel? Did you wish you could have given more to one organization over another? Did your giving reflect your values and priorities?
Most households in the U.S. give to 5–10 different nonprofits each year, but they don’t all hold equal weight in our hearts. Some people give a small amount to anyone who asks but reserve larger gifts for a few select causes. Others focus exclusively on one or two organizations they know and trust. No approach is right or wrong, your strategy is yours alone.
And, if you’re looking back and feeling that 2024 wasn’t quite the year you envisioned for your giving—maybe due to unexpected challenges—you’re not alone. The good news? 2025 offers a fresh start. Let’s make a plan together!
Set Your Annual Giving Goals
Before diving into numbers, let’s start by reflecting on your personal or family giving values. What do you care about most? What impact do you hope to have in your community and the world?
Consider writing a giving values statement to clarify your priorities. Ask yourself:
What causes are closest to your heart?
What change do you hope to see in the world?
How can your giving reflect these aspirations?
Take a moment to draft a simple, one- or two-sentence statement that sums up your giving priorities. Here’s an example:
"We aim to support education initiatives that empower underrepresented communities and promote lifelong learning."
Now, Let’s Add Some Numbers
With your giving vision in mind, start building your 2025 plan. Your plan might include:
1. Giving Budget
How much can you comfortably allocate to giving this year?
Will your gifts come from cash, appreciated stock, or another source?
2. Organizations to Support
Do you already have a list of nonprofits you want to prioritize?
Are there new organizations that align with your values? Take some time to research and learn about them.
3. Time Allocation
Beyond financial support, do you have skills or time to contribute? Volunteering can be an invaluable way to support causes you care about.
4. Giving Strategy
Write down the organizations and gifts you know you want to support—who, how much, and when.
Decide how you’ll balance proactive giving (planned gifts to known organizations) with reactive giving (unplanned opportunities that arise throughout the year).
Pro Tip: Find a balance between proactive and reactive giving. It’s empowering to have a plan while staying open to new opportunities that inspire you.
Impact 2025
By setting intentional goals and creating a thoughtful plan, you can make 2025 your most impactful year of giving yet.
What will your giving look like this year? Be sure to follow along for more tips and inspiration throughout the year. If you’d like support in creating or implementing your giving plan, check out our Coaching programs. They are a great way to stay on track and make the impact you envision.