Thursday 15 June 2017

Plan For Successful Fundraising

Many non-profits, particularly smaller charities and start-ups, operate without a fundraising plan.  When someone has an idea for an event or a campaign, these organizations simply put together a host committee or volunteer group and go for it.  They may send out a letter here and there and do some donor meetings, and when the bank account seems to be low, they often go into “panic mode” and race around trying to find cash to keep the doors open. This is definitely not the best way to run your development program.  Even if your non-profit is flush with cash, running an unorganized and unplanned fundraising operation is a recipe for stress, headaches, and ultimately… financial ruin. So, how do you avoid this fate?  The best way is by having a written fundraising plan.  A written plan will allow you to focus your efforts, plan out your yearly fundraising calendar, and give you guidance on strategy and tactics when you are in the thick of events, mailings, and calls.  In short, your fundraising plan will keep you sane in the insane day-to-day world of the development office.

The Goal                                                                                                     
The best starting point for your plan is with the end point in mind: what is your overall fundraising goal?  This number should not be drawn out of thin air.  It should be based on the needs of the organization.  How much money will your group need to raise in order to carry out the activities that you want to carry out?

The Mission
If the goal answers the question, “How much money do you need?” then the mission answers the question, “Why do you need it?”  What is your organization’s mission?  What do you plan to do with the money you raise?  What is your operating budget, and why is it the amount it is?

The Tactics
Once you know how much you need to raise and why you need to raise it, you need to figure out how you are going to raise the full amount. When it comes to tactics, there is no shortage of ways to raise money, only a limited amount of staff and volunteer resources to implement your ideas.  Try to include a good mix of fundraising tactics, and be willing to nix ideas that end up not working, and make up the lost revenue elsewhere.

The Timeline

Many organizations stumble here – they come up with a solid budget, have a great mission, and draw up a plan that includes a solid group of fundraising tactics, but fail to set timelines, and thus never seem to get things done. Whichever type of timeline you include, including one… it will force you to think critically through your fundraising decisions and provide invaluable guidance on your activities as the year progresses.


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