Not Too Late: Simple Shifts That Make the Second Half Stronger
Time flies when you’re changing the world. July marks the halfway point in the calendar year—and for many nonprofits, it’s a critical (and often overlooked) opportunity to hit pause, take stock, and ask: Is our marketing strategy still aligned with our mission and goals?
In this post, we’ll guide you through a simple but powerful mid-year marketing check-in designed just for nonprofit organizations. Whether you’re a small grassroots org or a large nonprofit with multiple departments, these five steps will help you reflect, realign, and refuel for the months ahead.
1. Revisit Your Original Goals (and Be Honest)
What were your primary marketing goals for 2025? More donors? Increased community visibility? Launching a new program?
Now ask: How close are you to meeting them?
If you’re ahead of schedule—congratulations! But if you’re not, that’s not a failure—it’s feedback. Maybe the plan was too ambitious. Maybe execution got derailed by other priorities. Or maybe your audience just didn’t respond as expected.
This is your chance to realign, not criticize. Look at what’s working and what’s not, and ask your team:
- Do these goals still feel relevant?
- Has anything changed in our funding landscape or programming?
- What’s been most effective so far this year?
2. Reconnect with Your Audience
You can’t effectively market without knowing what your audience needs—and that changes over time.
By mid-year, people’s habits, concerns, and attention spans have shifted. Parents are in summer mode. Donors may be distracted by vacations. Volunteers might be burned out or stretched thin.
This is the perfect time to send a quick 2-question email or social poll asking:
- What kind of updates or stories do you love hearing from us?
- What’s one thing you wish more people knew about [your mission]?
Even better: check your email open rates and social media analytics. Look at what actually resonated in the first half of the year.
3. Refresh Your Messaging (Without Reinventing the Wheel)
You don’t need a brand overhaul—but if your messaging sounds tired, vague, or overly formal, it may be time for a refresh.
Start small:
- Rewrite your homepage headline to focus on impact, not just programs.
- Add new donor testimonials or quotes from community members.
- Update old graphics or visuals on key landing pages.
And make sure your language still reflects your mission’s urgency, not just its history. In a crowded digital space, clarity builds trust—and trust fuels support.
4. Plan a Strategic Push for Fall
Fall is one of the busiest fundraising seasons of the year. If you wait until October to plan your end-of-year campaign, you’re already behind.
July is a great time to:
- Decide which stories or themes will anchor your fall messaging.
- Begin drafting email or social content that can be reused.
- Reach out to photographers, designers, or collaborators while their schedules are open.
Bonus tip: If you didn’t meet your mid-year fundraising goal, consider a “Back Half Boost” campaign in August or September to energize your base before year-end giving.
5. Celebrate Wins (Big or Small)
It’s easy to skip past successes when you’re focused on what’s next. But celebrating your team, your volunteers, and your supporters mid-year does more than boost morale—it builds momentum.
Share a quick “Top 5 Wins of the Year (So Far)” on Instagram or in your newsletter. Include photos, quotes, or behind-the-scenes moments.
People love knowing they’re part of something in progress—not just something polished.
Final Thoughts
A mid-year nonprofit marketing check-in isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. It’s your chance to listen, learn, and re-center your strategy around what matters most.
Whether you’re pivoting your messaging, preparing for a big fall campaign, or just taking a breath, remember: good marketing is never just about content—it’s about connection.
