The Off Year
The midterms end in 36 days. Then you have to tell your donors why your race matters.
Sept 2026
Strategy
6 minutes
Strategy
6 minutes
The Deferral
“Call me later” is a brush off. Turn it into a time on the calendar.
Oct 2026
Call time
3 minutes
Call time
3 minutes
The Hours
The number of hours matters. Showing up every week matters more.
Oct 2026
Call time
3 minutes
Call time
3 minutes
The Number
Figure out what the race costs, work backwards, then aim higher.
Oct 2026
Finance plans
4 minutes
Finance plans
4 minutes
The Final Week
The final week, everyone is paying attention. Ask for a big dollar amount and tell donors exactly what their money buys.
Oct 2026
Fundraising
5 minutes
Fundraising
5 minutes
The Day After
Win or lose, Wednesday morning you’re on the phone thanking your donors.
Nov 2026
Donor strategy
4 minutes
Donor strategy
4 minutes
The Bench
The cycle is over and the work dried up. What fundraisers should be doing right now.
Nov 2026
Fundraisers
5 minutes
Fundraisers
5 minutes
The Second Gift
Most campaigns spend to find new donors while the ones who already said yes go quiet. The second gift is cheaper than the first.
Publishing Nov 16
Donor strategy
Donor strategy