Fundraising in 2025: Key Insights from Development Leaders

It’s no surprise that the State Policy Network Annual Meeting continues to be one of the most attended conferences for development leaders—but this year’s survey found that Development Directors are planning to attend at twice the rate of any other conference.

As Morton Blackwell’s Rules of the Public Policy Process remind us, "Never miss a meeting if you think there's the slightest chance you'll wish you'd been there." For fundraisers in the liberty movement, the SPN Annual Meeting is where the most important conversations happen. It’s a prime opportunity to:

• Connect with peers who are shaping best practices and trends in non-profit development.
• Meet key donors in person and strengthen relationships outside of formal solicitations.
• Stay ahead of industry shifts by learning from top-performing organizations.

If you’re choosing just one conference to prioritize this year, SPN should be at the top of your list.

2. Fundraisers Are Spending More Time on Donor Cultivation—And That’s a Good Thing

Our survey found that 58% of respondents spend most of their time cultivating donor relationships—and for good reason. Relationship-building is the foundation of major gift success and long-term donor retention.

But here’s the challenge: Fundraisers are stretched thin. Too often, administrative work, inefficient CRMs, or lack of bandwidth pulls focus away from donor-facing activities.

🔹 How Optimize Consulting Can Help:

• We specialize in freeing up your time so you can focus on what matters most: building donor relationships.
• By streamlining your CRM, improving donor segmentation, and automating manual tasks, we help you spend less time on busywork and more time with donors.

3. The Squeeze on Development Resources Is Still On

If you feel like your fundraising goals keep growing while your team stays the same size—you’re not alone. Every respondent in our survey reported plans to increase new donor and revenue goals in 2025, but only half of organizations plan to increase development team headcount.

That means higher expectations with the same (or fewer) resources—a trend that has continued for the past few years.

🔹 How to Bridge the Gap:

• Invest in efficiency – Smarter donor tracking, automation, and streamlined moves management help your team do more with less.
• Leverage outside expertise – Whether it’s optimizing your CRM or refining your donor engagement strategy, partnering with experts like Optimize Consulting can give your team the support it needs without adding full-time staff.

What’s Next? Navigating 2025 with Confidence

As we move into 2025, the landscape for development professionals is clear:

✅ SPN Annual Meeting remains a priority event for networking and donor outreach.
✅ Donor cultivation remains the #1 priority, but fundraisers need more time to focus on relationships.
✅ Development teams are expected to do more with less, making efficiency and strategy more important than ever.

At Optimize Consulting, we help non-profits navigate these challenges by streamlining processes, integrating smart technology, and closing the bandwidth gap.

Want to take your fundraising strategy to the next level in 2025? Let’s talk.