How Donors Can Lead with Impact This Giving Season
Can you feel it? September carries that unmistakable “fresh start” energy, whether or not you’ve set foot in a classroom in decades. From my office window, I watch neighborhood kids parade to school with fresh haircuts and crisp clothes. By the time they trudge home, collars askew and backpacks sagging, they’ve already learned that routines can be as exhausting as they are grounding.
Grown-ups aren’t exempt. In France, they call it la rentrée—the reentry. It’s a season of reset, of settling back into structure after the whirl of summer. Sure, the calendar insists it’s still summer, but the air begins to tell a different story. You can feel the shift.
This is the perfect moment for donors, too. As we settle into our own routines, we’re invited to think beyond the day-to-day toward the kind of impact we want to spark in our communities in this final quarter of the year. September is a chance not just to reset, but to lead with our values and begin planning for a giving season that matters.
Don’t Let Giving Season Sneak Up on You
Here’s the thing: giving season has a bad habit of sneaking up on us. One minute it’s pumpkin spice and apple donuts, the next it’s holiday lights. Suddenly, your inbox is overflowing with annual appeals, Giving Tuesday countdowns, and “last chance” reminders from every nonprofit you’ve ever interacted with. Add in tax planning, required minimum distributions, and the year-end scramble, and it’s no wonder generosity often gets reduced to a rushed transaction.
I’m on a quest to change that. When donors step into this season prepared and clear on their goals, giving stops being a scramble and starts being a strategy and a joy. That’s where the real impact happens.
Leading with Impact This Giving Season
September is the perfect time to get ahead. La rentrée for philanthropy gives us the chance to start making plans now, and yes, you can even start making gifts now (your financial advisor, tax planner, and favorite nonprofits with thank you!) Here are a few ways to set your giving intentions and close out the year strong:
Lead with Your Values
I’ll stand on this soapbox for as long as I live: instead of asking, “Who’s asking me?” start with, “What matters most to me right now?” Giving feels more intentional—and frankly, more satisfying—when it’s anchored to your personal values. This also allows you to proactively reach out to the causes and organizations that matter most.
Prioritize Depth Over Breadth
It’s tempting to scatter donations across dozens of appeals at year-end, but impact often comes from focus. A few well-placed, generous gifts aligned with your goals and values will likely move the needle more than twenty smaller, disconnected ones.
Think Beyond the Calendar Year
Yes, tax deadlines matter. But the best giving plans stretch beyond December 31. Now is a great time to consider how your philanthropy fits into your longer-term legacy—whether that’s multi-year support for a nonprofit, establishing a donor-advised fund, or ensuring your estate plans reflect your intentions.
Leaning Into the Season
As we move deeper into giving season, remember: impact isn’t about the number of checks you write or the size of your donation. It’s about showing up intentionally, leading with your values, and making choices that feel right for you and your community.
Take a moment this September to pause. Think about the kind of change you want to see—and how your giving can be a quiet but powerful force in making it happen. Then step into the season with clarity, curiosity, and a little bit of joy. Because when generosity meets intention, everyone wins.