What MGO’s Should Do in January

We've recently talked a lot about resolutions and goals for 2026, but today, I want to suggest what you can do in January that will set the stage for an incredible 2026.

Your theme for January should be evaluation. But that evaluation should start after you close the books on 2025, which for most organizations happens around January 15.

So before you jump into analysis mode, January 2–15 should be all about thanking your donors appropriately and reaching out to them.

You will undoubtedly receive gifts from donors who intentionally gave before the end of the calendar year. My advice is to blow your donors away by thanking them with blazing speed. Why? Because they won’t expect it, and most of the other non-profits they supported won’t do it. Fast, thoughtful gratitude still stands out, and it always will.

But you will do it. And because of that, you’ll win the day and start 2026 on the right foot. So let’s be clear: the first part of January is about gratitude and connection. Once that’s done, it’s time to move into evaluation.

Metrics to Evaluate

• Actual total caseload revenue vs. goal revenue
• Actual 2025 giving vs. previous year giving
• How many meaningful connections did you make in 2025 vs. 2024?
• Donor retention rates: what percentage of your donors gave in both 2024 and 2025?
• Value attrition or growth: what was the total giving in 2025 from donors who also gave in 2024, and how much did that number grow or shrink?
• Total value of your caseload at the end of 2025 vs. the end of 2024
• Did you actually work your plan?

2026 Strategic Plan and Goals

You’ve most likely already created your 2026 strategic plan and revenue goals, but by the time January rolls around, that plan is already a month or two old. This is the perfect moment to revisit it.

Look closely at how you ended 2025 and check whether your current revenue goals by donor still make sense. Most of the time they will, but sometimes circumstances change. This is also when you should identify which donors might be positioned to make a transformational gift in 2026 and confirm that you have a clear plan for each of them.

Make any necessary adjustments in consultation with your manager. This alignment matters.

Personal Evaluation

I have always believed this is just as important as the metrics. Take a half-day later in January for personal reflection.

Start by reviewing your 2025 calendar. Look at what you did day by day. I promise you’ll be surprised by how much you actually accomplished. It’s a powerful reminder of the scope and importance of your work.

Then ask yourself a few honest questions:

• What did I learn last year about my donors? About my work? About myself?
• What am I proud of?
• What do I want to improve?
• What will I do differently this year?

Finally, schedule time with your manager. Prepare for that meeting by writing up your full evaluation: your metrics, any updated goals for 2026, and your personal reflections. Walk through it together. If I were your manager and you came to me this prepared, I’d be thrilled.

All of this work in January sets the tone for the entire year. Take the time now, and you’ll put yourself in a much stronger position to succeed in 2026.

Have a great year ahead. Veritus will be right here, walking alongside you.

A version of this blog was originally posted in 2018