From Busy to Better: A 90-Minute Capacity Tune-Up for Q4
Ah, the thought of September. When coffee tastes stronger, the board meetings are back in full swing, and your inbox is whispering: "Giving Tuesday is coming…"
I know it's still August, but next week will be a hazy blur as we engage with the back-to-school scramble, so I'm getting these thoughts out now so hopefully you can weave them into your planning and organizing.
Fall is the season when nonprofits shift gears from summer catch-up to year-end crunch. But before you sprint toward holiday appeals, grant deadlines, and budget reviews, it's worth taking 90 minutes for a capacity reset. Think of it as your nonprofit's version of sharpening the axe before chopping wood—because clarity now saves chaos later. Here's how to do a fast, five-pillar check-in:
1. Leadership
Ask: Are we clear on our Q4 priorities?
👉 Quick action: Host a 20-minute huddle with your leadership team or board chair to confirm the top two things that matter most this fall. (Spoiler: It's not "everything.”)
2. Governance
Ask: Is our board engaged where it counts?
👉 Quick action: Line up a micro-ask. Whether it's reviewing one policy, making three donor thank-you calls, or joining your Giving Tuesday push, small wins build momentum.
3. Revenue
Ask: Are we set up to maximize year-end giving?
👉 Quick action: Audit your year-end appeal plan. One compelling story + a precise CTA + donor segmentation = better results than a blanket blast.
4. Management
Ask: Are our systems helping—or slowing us down?
👉 Quick action: Identify one bottleneck (slow approvals, confusing donation forms, overdue reports) and fix it before November. Your future self will thank you.
5. Systems
Ask: What's one thing we can automate or simplify before year-end?
👉 Quick action: Whether it's scheduling emails, setting up auto tax receipts, or creating a dashboard, give your team back a few hours a week.
The Reset Matrix
Once you've asked these five questions, make a two-column list:
Prioritize now: 1–2 actions that move the needle before December 31.
Park for later: Everything else. (Yes, really. It can wait.)
Why This Works
Because capacity is like oxygen: you don't notice it until it's gone. By taking a structured pause now, you prevent burnout, free up your team's energy, and—most importantly—set yourself up to end the year with wins worth celebrating.
Ready for a deeper dive?
Try our free Capacity Check-In tool to map your nonprofit's strengths and gaps across leadership, governance, revenue, management, and systems. You'll get a clear snapshot and practical next steps—so you can stop spinning and start winning.
👉 Do your Capacity Check-In here.
