With many nonprofits entering the holidays with depleted resources—after responding to heightened community needs and unexpected disruptions earlier this year—year-end gifts are not just helpful; they are essential to keeping programs strong and families supported. 

A Critical Season for Nonprofits 

For many organizations, November and December account for 30–40% of annual donations. That’s true in a typical year—but in 2025, the stakes are even higher. 

Economic uncertainty, the temporary pause in SNAP benefits, and rising demand across nearly every area of service have stretched nonprofits thin. Year-end giving is the moment when a donor’s generosity meets an organization’s greatest need, creating extraordinary impact at the exact right time. 

There is still time to make grants from your DAF fund, and you can find End of Year Giving Deadlines here. 

The Power of Holiday Generosity 

The holidays naturally inspire reflection, gratitude, and giving. People want to make a difference, and nonprofits depend on that spirit to: 

• launch year-end campaigns
• secure corporate matching gifts
• meet urgent needs during winter months
• fund holiday programs and relief efforts 

A single year-end gift often helps organizations do more than donors realize. It may: 

• put meals on the table
• ensure a child receives a warm coat
• support mental health counseling
• help seniors remain safe and independent
• provide shelter to families in crisis 

This season, those needs are more pronounced than ever. 

Meeting Goals and Building Stability for 2026 

For many nonprofits, year-end giving provides the foundation for the entire next year. These final weeks determine whether organizations can: 

• meet their annual budget
• continue offering programs without interruption
• hire or retain essential staff
• respond to the increased community demand expected in early 2026 

Small and mid-sized nonprofits—especially those serving food-insecure households, youth, and vulnerable families—rely heavily on year-end generosity to stay afloat. 

Making Wishes Come True 

Every donor wants their gift to matter. At year-end, it truly does. 

When a nonprofit can send home weekend food packs… keep their holiday assistance program open a little longer… or meet the last gap in their fundraising goal, that is the direct result of donor generosity. 

These gifts create hope. They offer stability. And they help nonprofits enter the new year ready to serve—rather than struggling to catch up. 

A Season of Impact — and a Call to Support Local Food Pantries 

This year, the need for food assistance in Eastern Jackson County is unlike anything our community has faced in recent memory. The temporary halt in SNAP benefits, combined with delayed federal worker compensation, created an immediate and unexpected strain on thousands of households who rely on these resources to make ends meet. 

Local food pantries stepped up—opening their doors wider, extending hours, and distributing more food than ever—but many are now entering the holiday season with severely depleted shelves. 

As you consider your year-end giving, we encourage you to direct your generosity toward the organizations on the front lines of hunger relief. Our community food pantries need support now more than ever, and year-end donations will help them restock, recover, and continue serving families through the winter months. 

If you’re unsure where to give, we’ve created a list of local food pantries across Eastern Jackson County on our website. 

👉 Visit  https://www.thcf.org/donors/snap-resources to find organizations you can support directly. 

Your gift—no matter the size—puts food on the table for families, seniors, children, and workers caught in this year’s crisis. And it ensures that our community’s most essential safety-net organizations can continue meeting rising needs into 2026. 

Thank you for making a meaningful difference when it matters most.