Reflect on the goals you want to set for 2025 as you navigate evolving organizational change and programmatic opportunities. Clear, actionable goals can help anchor priorities and keep people motivated towards their goals even when stretched thin. By setting intentional, achievable goals, you can bring clarity and structure to your ambitions for the new year.
Key Points to Guide Your 2025 Goal-Setting Process
Identify Needed Resources to Support Goals: Consider both physical, time and financial resources that will support your goal. For instance, if your goal is to recruit four new board members this year, identify resources like outreach materials, access to professional networks, and potential board members. If your goal is to improve public speaking skills, identify resources like public speaking workshops, a coach, or time for practice sessions. If you aim to launch a new program, consider the funds, staff, partners, materials, and planning time required to bring it to fruition. For engaging major donors, think about the resources you'll need, such as donor research tools, networking opportunities, and time for personalized outreach. Identifying physical, time and financial resources early on ensures you have a clear, actionable path to achieve your goals.
Resources: Reflect on the time, materials, or funding you’ll need. Think beyond immediate physical resources and consider your time and energy.
What new or existing resources could support your biggest goals this year?
Break Goals into Small, Manageable Tasks: It is helpful to break down goals into small tasks so that the goal feels manageable. If you have a 6 month goal that might take some time to accomplish, what are some small tasks that you can work in a week, 2 weeks or a 3 months to get you to achieve the 6 month goal?
Breaking down big goals helps maintain momentum and makes progress feel achievable. Try setting weekly or monthly “mini-goals” as stepping stones.
Example: If you’re launching a new program by mid-2025, you might start by identifying initial milestones—market research, partnership outreach, and funding proposals.
What is one small step you can take this week to move closer to your goal?
Identify Potential Mentors and Advisors: Reaching out to colleagues, supervisors, consultants, friends, and others with relevant expertise can provide valuable insights. Create a list of people who might support your goals or offer guidance. If you're looking to expand or scale a nonprofit program, connect with someone who has experience in that area. Hearing about others’ journeys can clarify the steps you’ll need to take to reach your goals. Draft a list of individuals who could offer helpful perspectives and advice specific to your objectives.
Tap into your resources: In reaching your goals, surround yourself with people who can provide guidance, insights, or resources. Consider individuals within your network or community who have experience in areas relevant to your goal.
Example: If you’re scaling up a service program, consult with leaders who have successfully navigated similar growth. Make a list of people to approach and the questions you’d like to ask them.
Who in your network could provide advice, connections, or insights as you work toward your 2025 goals?
Incorporating a thoughtful approach to setting your nonprofit goals for 2025 can bring clarity and purpose to the year ahead. By using a goal setting worksheet or exploring various goal setting tools, you’ll create a structured path to help prioritize and achieve your objectives. Setting goals for yourself and your organization doesn’t have to be overwhelming—with practical goal setting examples and workplace goals examples we provided, you can see how small, intentional steps can build momentum and drive impact. Embrace this process to support both personal and organizational growth, and make 2025 a year where your goals lead to meaningful progress.
Ready to set your goals for 2025? Need more guidance? Download our goal setting templates to get started.