Fundraising Tip: Your Fundraising Plan

A simple plan will benefit your relationship-building and fundraising.

When I think of a nonprofit fundraising plan, I think of something created months ago, saved as a Word document, and not looked at since.

It may even be titled “2019 Fundraising Plan”!

Or a folder covered in dust at the bottom of a drawer in the corner of a fundraising office.

My point here is that my experience both when I began a new fundraising job and working with clients on their fundraising plan is that there is currently no plan, only copies of one from the past.

Indeed, many job descriptions for new fundraising team members, especially those who are leading the team, include the need to create a fundraising plan.

A fundraising plan can be as simple as a Word document with a few ideas for the upcoming fiscal year and ideas that will support fundraising efforts in meeting the fundraising goal.

It can also be a line-by-line (or in my case from what I provide, a slide-by-slide) of who, what, when, why, and how the organization will make its fundraising goal.

It can be super specific or broad.

A good fundraising plan includes all of the stakeholders and all of the line items from the budget that require fundraised dollars.

The biggest challenge for nonprofits regarding a fundraising plan is implementation.

At first, there is excitement. That can quickly wane.

Do you have a fundraising plan?

Have a look at it and decide with your team what you can take action on.

Right now.

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Take a risk. Be of service. Support your friends and colleagues. Be kind.