6 Easy Steps to Creating a Written Fundraising Plan

Many nonprofits struggle to create a fundraising plan and put it in writing, yet the benefits are tremendous. A written plan shifts you from being reactive and dealing with the crisis of the day to being proactive and working purposefully toward the results you want. In this session, you’ll learn how to follow 6 simple steps to put together a written plan for raising the money you need in the coming year.

1. WELCOME!
6 Easy Steps to Creating a Written
Fundraising Plan, featuring Sandy Rees

2. 2
Our Speaker
Sandy Rees, CFRE
Fundraising and Nonprofit Coach
AFP Master Trainer

Sandy specializes in helping nonprofit organizations
raise money, develop their Boards, and ensure the
success of their missions. She is the creator of Get
Fully Funded , a system for fundraising, you can learn
more at www.getfullyfunded.com.

Sandy has authored numerous publications including
her latest “Get Fully Funded”, "Fundraising Buffet" and
"Simple Success Fundraising Plan.“ She is a frequent
contributor to Advancing Philanthropy and Inside
Fundraising Success magazines

Graduate of Tennessee Technological University

3. Why plan?
•Go from reactive to proactive.
•Provides a roadmap for your
fundraising.
•Gets everyone on the same page.

4. Direction?
If you don’t know where you’re going,
then any road will get you there.

5. 6 Simple Steps to a Plan
1.Identify your assets.
2.Set your goals.
3.Create a plan of action.
4.Work the plan.
5.Monitor the plan.
6.Celebrate!

6. How much $ do you need?
Before we start to plan, you need to know
how much money you need.

What will it take to deliver service this
year?

7. Evaluate the past
•How did it go last year?
•How about the years prior?
•What worked well?
•What didn’t?

8. Strategy Last Year Two Years Ago Include in
This Year’s
Plan?
Notes
Grants $ $
Special Events $ $
Direct Mail $ $
Major Gifts $ $
Monthly Giving $ $
Lapsed Donors $ $
Online Giving $ $
Memberships $ $
Corporate sponsorships $ $
Product sales $ $
Other $ $
Total $ $

9. Step 1
Identify your assets

10. What are assets?
Organizational assets are things you have
going for you that make fundraising
easier.

Fundraising assets raise good money for
your nonprofit.

11. Organizational Assets
•Compelling mission
•Large public base of support
•Name recognition
•Well-known staff or Board members
•Great facility
•Others?

12. Fundraising assets
•Great relationships with local
foundations
•Solid direct mail program
•High traffic to your website
•Successful signature special event
•Something else?

13. Choose assets
Pick the ones you can best use to raise
money with this year.

Start with what you know for sure. Then
fill in the rest.

14. Summary Calendar
Grants Events Direct
mail
Major
gifts
Marktg Comm. other
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
July
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

15. Step 2
Set your goals

16. 3 Fundraising Targets
1.Number of dollars to raise
2.Number of current donors to renew
3.Number of new donors to acquire

17. Decide on strategies
Which fundraising strategies will you use?
•Grantwriting
•Special events
•Direct Mail
•Major Gifts
•Online fundraising
•Others?

18. Make your goals SMART
S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Realistic
T = Timely

19. Good SMART examples
•Increase our donor base by 10% by
December 31, 2012.

•Recruit 2 new sponsors for our Golf
Tournament by October 1, 2012.

20. Make sure it works
Strategy Goal Dollars
to raise
#Renewed
donors
# New
Donors
Grant writing
Special events
Direct mail
Major gifts
Online fundraising
Others?
Totals $

21. Step 3
Create a plan of
action

22. Start putting it together
Fundraising
Targets
Fundraising
Strategies
Action
Plans

23. For example
1. Raise $100,000
2. Renew 65% of donors
3. Acquire 500 new donors
Raise $25,000 - grants.
Raise $50,000 - major gifts.
Raise $25,000 – individual donors
(event, direct mail, online giving)
Action Plans

24. Strategy Details
Strategy Descrip. Target
Audience
$ Goal Cost? Who will
do?
By
when?
Grants
Events
Direct
mail
Major
gifts
Online
giving
Other?

25. For example
Strategy Descrip. Target
Audience
$ Goal Cost? Who will
do?
By
when?
Grants write
grants
Private
foundations
$25,000 $0 Me deadlines
Events Fundraising
dinner
Current and
prospective
donors
$10,000 $2,500 Me,
committee
Planning
calendar
Direct mail Back to
school
appeal
Current
donors
$10,000 $2,500 Me Sep 1
Major gifts Cultivate
and ask for
major gifts
Current and
prospective
major donors
$50,000 $0 Me, Board 2 each
month
Online
giving
Raise
money
online
Current and
prospective
donors
$5,000 $0 Me Nov 1
Other?

26. Action Steps
Action Step Who will do it? When will it
happen
What resources
are needed?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

27. For example
Action Step Who will do it? When will it
happen
What
resources
are needed?
1. Research
opportunities
Me By March 1, 2012 time
2. Prioritize the
opportunities
Me By March 7, 2012 Time
3. Create a
deadline
calendar
Me By March 10, 2012 Time
4. Write
proposals
Me Before deadline time
Strategy: Grant writing

28. Marketing & Communications
•Clearly identify your ideal donor
prospect
•Choose the key messages to share
•Choose marketing & communications
strategies to reach them

29. Marketing & Communications
Strategy Descrip. Target
Audience
Goal Cost? Who will
do?
By
when?
Website
News
letter
Public
speaking
Press
releases
E-news
Other?

30. Step 4
Work the plan

31. Execute!

32. Step 5
Monitor the plan

33. Regular review
At least monthly, review your plan to see
how you’re doing.

Course-correct if needed

34. Monthly Checklist
•Total dollars
•Renewed donors
•New donors
•Goals

35. Planned vs actual
Review each strategy and goal.
Ask yourself
•How are we doing versus what we
planned?
•What do we need to adjust?

36. Like this:
Ready
Aim
Fire
Aim
Fire

37. Step 6
Celebrate!

38. Celebrate!
Don’t forget to celebrate when things go
well!

39. Tip!
Focus on the fundraising activities that will
give you the most “bang for the buck.”

40. Tip!
Reduce the number of special events you
host.

41. Tip!
Individual donors are the largest source of
untapped potential.

42. 42
Questions
•Please type in chat at the bottom of the left hand
viewing pane.

43. 43
Contact Information
•Connect with Sandy on her website, www.GetFullyFunded.com
or via email at sandy<at>GetFullyFunded<dot>com
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