Hi Reader,

As 2025 draws to a close, I've been reflecting on the ideas we explored together, the questions that continue to challenge us, and the new ways we discovered to learn from one another.

Before diving in, I want to say thank you. I appreciate the time you take to read and engage with me through this newsletter. It means the world to me. I'm grateful you’re here.

What I also love is how this newsletter captures our thinking over time. I can look back and see which themes resonated, which fell flat (yes, there were several), and the emails you read the most.

In today’s final 2025 edition of the Social Profit Stack, I'll share the themes we uncovered, explore why they mattered, and share questions to ask yourself as we head into 2026.

Let's dive in.

What did we spend the year talking about?

When I looked back through the 2025 editions, four clear themes rose to the top, and they feel as relevant now as they did in January:

1/ AI became your consistent sidekick

This year, we stripped away the mystery around AI and positioned it as an assistant you could use in your work. Whether it was helping your donors learn about your cause, assisting with your writing, or reclaiming hours in your week, AI shifted from "someday" to "right now." Can’t wait to carry this through 2026.

2/ Better clarity, less friction, more impact

We kept coming back to one powerful idea: the simpler you make it for people to donate, the more they will. From tightening up your email strategies to fixing your clunky donation forms to resisting the urge to be everywhere online, we focused on removing the tiny barriers that quietly cost you donations.

3/The data you’ve been collecting helps share compelling stories worth reading

Your donor data isn't only spreadsheets and numbers. It's insight. It's relationship-building fuel. We explored how collecting it well, breaking down your silos, and actually using what you learn can transform your one-time givers into lifelong supporters.

4/ You're more capable than you think

My favourite theme of all: challenging the stories you tell yourself. "We're not techie enough." "Our donors don't want to hear from us." I don’t want these ideas to hold you back. Throughout the past year, we reframed digital tools as extensions of what you already do well because you don't need to be perfect to get started.

While these themes shaped our year, recognizing what mattered in 2025 is only half the work.

Time for a Reset

Before rushing into 2026, I want to share something I learned from author and productivity expert Cal Newport. He asks three simple questions that can help us reshape the way we think:

>What are you going to stop doing?

>What are you going to continue doing?

>What will you start doing?

Answering these questions forced me to dig deep and be honest about what's actually working, what drains my energy, and where to invest my attention next.

Too often, we pile new goals on top of old habits without clearing space for them. We say yes to everything and wonder why nothing moves forward.

So before you map out your 2026 strategy, take a moment with these three questions. The clarity they bring might be the most valuable planning you do all year.

I hope asking them can do the same for you.

What This Year Taught Us

This year quietly challenged assumptions you may not have realized you were carrying: that digital fundraising must be complex to work, that tech confidence belongs to someone else, that AI is either overwhelming or irrelevant.

But across stacks of conversations and newsletters, different patterns emerged.

When you remove friction, donors stay. When tools feel human, you feel capable. When you treat AI like an assistant rather than a trend, time shows up where it matters most.

The real learning wasn't about new tactics; it makes you realize how much leverage you already have, and what happens when you use it with intention.

As we close out the year, I’ll remind you that you're already closer than you think.

Wishing you, your family, and friends a Happy New Year. I can’t wait to continue learning in 2026!

Top Links of 2025 💜

​Practivated: check out this AI-powered donor conversation simulator that strengthens your fundraising. Fundraisers practice in a no-pressure environment while leaders gain insights into team-wide strengths and opportunities—helping organizations build confidence, drive donor engagement, and improve fundraising outcomes.

Grab your nonprofit storytelling template right here. Use this one over and over again to turn your nonprofit’s data into compelling donor messages.

If you missed an edition, check out the list of my recent newsletters right here: https://join.socialprofitstack.com/profile​