I recently led a webinar to teach people about my “Simple Success” fundraising plan. One of the things I shared was the 7 questions your fundraising plan MUST answer. I thought you might like them too, so here they are.
1. How much money do we need to raise? You need a specific goal for your plan. If you just want to “raise more money,” you are setting yourself up for failure. After all, how much is more money? $1 more? $100 more?
2. Where will the money come from? You need a mix of revenue streams to ensure the health of your organization. Will you collect money from individuals? Foundations? Events? Don’t set a goal without knowing where the money will be raised.
3. Who will we ask? Be specific. Who will you ask for money? This goes into creating lists of potential donors.
4. When will we ask? Create a schedule of when you will order. Include grant deadlines, events, etc. to get a full picture of your year.
5. How much will we order? You should think about the amount you will request from each donor. You may need to do some research in some cases to find out how much is appropriate, especially if you are working with major donors.
6. How will we track a gift? You need to know how you will thank your donors, how you will manage gifts, and how you will build relationships. Be proactive about it, not reactive!
7. How soon will we ask again? Don’t be afraid to ask for a gift several times during the year. If you only order once a year, I promise you’re leaving money on the table! If you’re doing a good job building relationships with your donors, they WANT to support the work you’re doing. Make it easy for them by giving them multiple opportunities to give.