The beginning of a new year is brimming with possibilities—a perfect time for planners like us to strategize for donor engagement. Whether cultivating new connections or strengthening existing relationships, there are countless opportunities to celebrate and engage with your supporters.
While some dates are staples for planned giving outreach—like Estate Planning Awareness Week or National Financial Awareness Day—there are plenty of hidden gems on the calendar worth celebrating. February is packed with opportunities with National Send a Card to a Friend Day, Valentine’s Day and Random Acts of Kindness Day. Or, if you are ready to get started now, National Compliment Day is just over a week away on January 24. It’s an ideal moment to reach out with a heartfelt call or a handwritten note to your donors.
Here’s a curated list of key dates (and months) that lend themselves beautifully to creative donor outreach:
January
- January 24: National Compliment Day
February
- February 7: National Send a Card to a Friend Day
- February 14: Valentine’s Day
- February 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day
- February 20: World Day of Social Justice
March
- March 13: National Good Samaritan Day
April
- Financial Awareness Month
- April 20: Volunteer Recognition Day
May
- May 3: Join Hands Day
August
- National Make-A-Will Month
- August 14: National Financial Awareness Day
- August 17: National Nonprofit Day
- August 19: World Humanitarian Day
September
- September 5: International Day of Charity
- September 21: World Gratitude Day
October
- October 10: DAF Day
- October 20-26: National Estate Planning Awareness Week
November
- November 13: World Kindness Day
- November 15: National Philanthropy Day
December
- December 2: Giving Tuesday
- December 5: International Volunteer Day
Using these dates, you can mark up your favorite planner or simply download our free calendar with everything pre-mapped for you:
Want more? There are hundreds of other quirky and meaningful celebration days you can use as inspiration. For example, you could host a get-together on National Hot Chocolate Day, January 31. Invite your legacy society members for an afternoon of delicious hot chocolate, savory treats and good conversation (a particularly enticing idea if you happen to be where temps are in the single digits like we are!).
Here’s to a fulfilling and impactful 2025. Cheers to the connections we’ll make and the good we’ll do—together!
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