Summer is usually a time when the fast-paced day-to-day activity of development offices slows down a bit—there are typically fewer gifts, visits, and events and the tight deadlines that go with them. As I’ve shared before, this increase in unstructured time makes summer one of my favorite periods for long-term planning.
I know, however, that unstructured time does not equal unlimited time, and that you want to engage in valuable tasks to improve your work. Here are a few of my favorite high impact summer activities that can set you up for success in the second half of the year.
Review plans for major donors
Staying on track with your major donors should be at the top of your list. This is a good time to review your outreach and stewardship plans for your most generous supporters, and to prepare for the rest of the year. With so many demands on you at year-end, setting systems in place during the summer months will help ensure proper execution during that hectic time.
Audit last year’s year-end activity
Look back at last year’s fourth quarter. This is when calendars are packed with tasks to help finish the year in a strong position. The annual cycle of development often leads to repetition of activities because “it’s always been done that way.” Take a hard look at everything that you did last year—was it all valuable? Were projects worth the amount of time, planning, and resources that went into them? Evaluate the costs and benefits to see if there’s anything you can improve—or eliminate—this year. Discarding even one or two low-value projects can pay dividends for your wellbeing and ability to perform at year-end.
Schedule creative time
Many of us have a wish list of new ideas, projects, or approaches that we’d like to try in our work, but lack the uninterrupted time to really explore and think about our plans. The slower pace of summer provides an excellent window to make this happen. Block out several hours on your calendar for creative and brainstorming time. Better yet, can you take a whole day to give yourself a mini retreat? New ideas will bring you back to your work refreshed, with innovative perspectives on how to solve problems and execute your goals.
I hope that these tips help you to plan a summer that is both productive and restorative!