The Year-End Ask Series
Everything your organization needs to close the year strong.
The Year-End Ask Series is a 4-month initiative to help nonprofits craft a strong year-end fundraising strategy. Nonprofits can look forward to deep-dive trainings and free workshops to help them take the right steps to reach their donation goals.
The Foundation’s goal for this series is for organizations to create impactful campaigns not only for 2026, but a framework to replicate and build upon year-after-year.
8 Essentials for the Year-End Ask: Checklist for Every Nonprofit
Check off every item on this list by joining our Year-End Ask trainings and workshops. This program is built to help you run the strongest fundraising campaign of the year when it matters most.
Campaign Theme & Messaging Framework – to tell your story in the most impactful, succinct way across all channels.
Segmented Donor List – so the right message reaches the right donor at the right time.
Direct Mail Appeal – the in-depth way to nourish new and existing donor relationships from the kitchen table.
Gratitude and Acknowledgement Plan – so every donor feels seen before and after your ask.
Social Media Content Plan – to stay in touch with your supporters and community with authenticity.
Planned Giving Option for Donors – so your most loyal supporters have a way to leave a lasting legacy.
Strategic Email Campaign – that moves donors from awareness into action.
Optimized Donation Landing Page – to make the transition from interest to giving as smooth as possible.
Series Schedule
| Anatomy of an Annual Report | August 19 | 12-1 PM | Zoom | Free |
| Social Media that Drives Donations | September 16 | 12-1 PM | Zoom | Free |
| Fundraising and Development Virtual Training Series | September | Every Tuesday 11 AM – 1 PM | Zoom | $80 |
| Planned Giving | October 19-21 | 10 AM – 1 PM | Cortez, Durango & Pagosa | $30 |
| Working Workshop: Crafting Your Year-End Emails | October 28 | 10 AM – 12:30 PM | Zoom | Free |
| Optimizing Your Donation Landing Page | November 18 | 12-1 PM | Zoom | Free |
Workshop Descriptions
August 19 Tips & Tricks: Anatomy of an Annual Report
Direct Mail Appeal
Free on Zoom | 12-1 PM
Facilitator: Briggen Wrinkle, Community Foundation
An annual nonprofit report is an essential piece of marketing to help maintain donors’ investment in the organization and cultivate new donors. Nonprofits that put the time and effort in to review the year, plan for the future, and then communicate that information to their stakeholders undoubtedly builds trust and nourishes those valuable relationships. This workshop will cover the essential content for an annual report, ideas of how to implement the ask, and the timeline.
September 16 Tips & Tricks: Social Media that Drives Donations
Social Media Content Plan
Free on Zoom | 12-1 PM
Facilitator: Ashlyn Rochester, Authentic Solutions Consulting
While social media itself typically isn’t a main channel to drive donations, it is one of the best ways to provide regular reminders, so your supporters stay invested in what you do. This workshop will focus on different ways to approach your audience for donations on social media, and what methods may work best for your organization.
September 8 – 29: Fundraising and Development Training Series
Campaign Theme & Messaging Framework
Segmented Donor List
Direct Mail Appeal
Gratitude and Acknowledgement Plan
$80 | Tuesdays in September on Zoom | 11 AM – 1 PM
Denise Clark, Nonprofit Consultant and former trainer with Colorado Nonprofit Association
Whether your organization is building a development program for the first time or looking to sharpen an existing one, participants will walk away with a clear understanding of fundraising fundamentals, steps to implement them immediately, and practical tools to guide your efforts throughout the year.
October 19, 20 & 21: Planned Giving Fundamentals
Planned Giving Option for Donors
Choose one training to attend in your area.
$30 | October 19, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Pagosa Springs
$30 | October 20, 9 AM – 12 PM | Durango
$30 | October 21, 9 AM – 12 PM | Cortez
Facilitator: Brandy Bertram, Great Big Good Nonprofit Consulting
A planned gift can transform opportunities for a nonprofit, but many organizations don’t know how to set up or structure a planned gift. This training will inform nonprofits how to ask for a planned gift from a donor, and how to offer this as an option.
October 28: Working Workshop for Crafting Your Year-End Emails
Strategic Email Campaign
Free on Zoom | 10 AM – 12:30 PM
Facilitator: Kim Cassels, Community Foundation
Email is the number one way to earn online donations, and so our time and attention to these communications is essential as we move into the giving season. This is a working workshop with the goal to leave with three quality emails, ready to schedule for December, checking off an imperative task in your Year-End Ask.
November 18 Tips & Tricks: Working Workshop for Optimizing Your Donation Landing Page
Optimized Donation Landing Page
Free on Zoom | 12-1 PM
Facilitator: Kim Cassels, Community Foundation
Whether you’re utilizing the Colorado Gives platform or driving traffic directly to your website, there are multiple methods to ensure your messaging makes it easy to hit the donation button, and your checkout process is seamless and fast. Join us to work on your landing page in real time, and get inspired about the different tools you can use!
