Design and improve your fundraising plan effectively

Creating a new fundraising plan can be intimidating at first since it is more art than science. But it’s crucial. Thanks to a successful fundraising approach, your team will have focus, direction, and clarity.

It will organise thinking and mobilise effort in the direction of a number of doable objectives. It serves as your rudder, ensuring that everyone is moving in the same direction and that the compass is pointing upward.

The sections below provide helpful advice to get your campaign moving in the correct direction.

Define Your Goals

Having a clear purpose and timeframe will help you plan and carry out effective fundraising strategies, even though it may seem simple. Don’t limit your planning to a 12-month cycle.

Give yourself the room to be ambitious because developing and expanding a new revenue stream can take years. Don’t concern yourself with the specifics just yet.

Lifting your gaze, focusing on the future, and ensuring that your entire team is aware of your direction are all crucial.

Choose the Type of Fundraising Technique You’ll Employ

There are two primary categories of fundraising tactics, according to Charity Fundraising—research-led and organisation-led fundraising plans.

Research-led fundraising plans will anticipate fundraising income and establish new goals by looking at organisational history and trends.

Organisation-led plans are intended to mobilise ambition as determined by your board of trustees and senior management.

Examine Prior Performance

You need to know where your journey begins so that you can plan it. In order to do this, analyse historical earnings and trends using your data.

Are you reliant on a single financing source or pool? Is there a stream that has performed poorly or that has grown more quickly than anticipated?

You can rotate and analyse this data quickly and easily with a charity CRM, providing you with a clear baseline to assist you in determining your top fundraising priorities.

Utilise a Framework Tool to Comprehend the Surrounding Environment

The past two years have taught people that fundraising is extremely susceptible to unexpected circumstances. You must take into account the potential effects of social, technological, environmental, economic, political, and legal aspects on your fundraising and make appropriate plans.

Although it may seem intimidating, keep your cool. To direct your thinking and identify the external landscape’s risks and opportunities, The Directory of Social Change advises utilising a STEEPLE analysis.

Study Industry Trends

No charity is an island, so it’s critical that you comprehend the trends influencing your industry. From digital fundraising and the return of charity events to the current economic squeeze and a cashless future.

Although you shouldn’t strive to keep up with the Joneses, you should plan your fundraising approach keeping in mind the general trends in fundraising.

Conclusion

You’ve established your goals, are familiar with your starting point, and are aware of your surroundings. The moment has come to prioritise tasks and define goals using this information.

There may be many factors to take into account, so go through each source of income and define SMART goals for each one, utilising each step to help balance organisational ambition with research-based objectives.

If you need help with capital campaign strategy, Craigmyle Fundraising Consultants has got your back.

We have a strong vocational approach to our work with charities, focusing on sectors like education, arts & heritage, faith organisations, and welfare & community. Contact us today to learn more!

Tips and Blogs

Creating a new fundraising plan can be intimidating at first since it is more art than science. But it’s crucial. Thanks to a successful fundraising approach, your team will have focus, direction, and clarity.

It will organise thinking and mobilise effort in the direction of a number of doable objectives. It serves as your rudder, ensuring that everyone is moving in the same direction and that the compass is pointing upward.

The sections below provide helpful advice to get your campaign moving in the correct direction.

Define Your Goals

Having a clear purpose and timeframe will help you plan and carry out effective fundraising strategies, even though it may seem simple. Don’t limit your planning to a 12-month cycle.

Give yourself the room to be ambitious because developing and expanding a new revenue stream can take years. Don’t concern yourself with the specifics just yet.

Lifting your gaze, focusing on the future, and ensuring that your entire team is aware of your direction are all crucial.

Choose the Type of Fundraising Technique You’ll Employ

There are two primary categories of fundraising tactics, according to Charity Fundraising—research-led and organisation-led fundraising plans.

Research-led fundraising plans will anticipate fundraising income and establish new goals by looking at organisational history and trends.

Organisation-led plans are intended to mobilise ambition as determined by your board of trustees and senior management.

Examine Prior Performance

You need to know where your journey begins so that you can plan it. In order to do this, analyse historical earnings and trends using your data.

Are you reliant on a single financing source or pool? Is there a stream that has performed poorly or that has grown more quickly than anticipated?

You can rotate and analyse this data quickly and easily with a charity CRM, providing you with a clear baseline to assist you in determining your top fundraising priorities.

Utilise a Framework Tool to Comprehend the Surrounding Environment

The past two years have taught people that fundraising is extremely susceptible to unexpected circumstances. You must take into account the potential effects of social, technological, environmental, economic, political, and legal aspects on your fundraising and make appropriate plans.

Although it may seem intimidating, keep your cool. To direct your thinking and identify the external landscape’s risks and opportunities, The Directory of Social Change advises utilising a STEEPLE analysis.

Study Industry Trends

No charity is an island, so it’s critical that you comprehend the trends influencing your industry. From digital fundraising and the return of charity events to the current economic squeeze and a cashless future.

Although you shouldn’t strive to keep up with the Joneses, you should plan your fundraising approach keeping in mind the general trends in fundraising.

Conclusion

You’ve established your goals, are familiar with your starting point, and are aware of your surroundings. The moment has come to prioritise tasks and define goals using this information.

There may be many factors to take into account, so go through each source of income and define SMART goals for each one, utilising each step to help balance organisational ambition with research-based objectives.

If you need help with capital campaign strategy, Craigmyle Fundraising Consultants has got your back.

We have a strong vocational approach to our work with charities, focusing on sectors like education, arts & heritage, faith organisations, and welfare & community. Contact us today to learn more!