1. Fundraising Plan
Your Road Map to Money

2. Our Roadmap for Today
 What you need
 Assess existing resources
 Determine financial targets
 Identify Sources of Names
 Identify Prospects and Sources of Funds
 Storing Information
 Gift Range Chart
 Customized Prospect Lists
 Solicitation Tools
 Outcome/Gifts
 TIPS and Ideas

3. Something about Research
A good Fundraising Plan heavily depends on
good research !
A good Fundraising Plan depends heavily on
good research !
A good fundraising plan is heavily dependent
on good research !
Get it? Got it? Good.

4. Begin at the Beginning
 Where to begin? Each organization is unique
 Case Statement!! It includes your mission, goals, future
plans, growth strategy, etc.
 Define Funding Needs; ops, programs, professional
development, events, endowment, capital improvements
 Make sure you know why you want to raise funds for each line
item. Make sure you understand the tasks involved. And
above all, make sure you understand how much it will cost in
terms of money and time.

5. Assessing Existing Resources
 Money
 Current donor list
 Prospective donor list
 Donor history
 Past fundraising strategy and analysis of results
 PR materials past and present
 Experienced staff and board members/other volunteers
 Fundraising Committee of the board
 Appropriate donor management software
 At this stage fact finding is important. Assessing past
successes and failures will save time in the long run

6. Determine your financial targets
First thing to do – fight the temptation to think only about the present. If you are
in an emergency situation…do we stay open? Do we close? This is not the
time to plan for the future. Focus on three issues:
Present Needs
 A van, materials for an upcoming event, a board recognition dinner…etc.
Think about all the things that need money that are immediate…staff
salaries!!!!
Short term Needs
 All the expenses you will have for the coming year
Long term Needs
 All the expenses you are likely to incur over a 3-5 year period. Perhaps you
are planning an endowment campaign? A capital fund campaign?

7. Identify Sources of Names
Likely sources are:
 Board
 Staff
 Staff/Consultant Fundraisers
 Volunteers
 Speaking Events
 Research
 Lists

8. Identify Prospects
This requires dedication to research. DO NOT skip
this step!
 Individuals
 Foundations
 Corporations
 Government
 Church Groups
You need to know who, what, where, and when

9. Sources of Funds
Source Advantages Disadvantages
Costly to develop, small return per
Largest source of giving individual unit
Ongoing source one can build Hard to generate unless broad-based
Individuals Once a giver, also an advocate direct service appeal
Volunteers are a good source of Risky for the inexperienced
money Need significant assistance from the
organization's board and volunteers
Source of large sums of money
Start-up funds only
Accessible, professional staff
Large-Family Lengthy process
Clear guidelines, process
More difficult to access through
Foundations Most likely to research your request
personal influence
Board volunteers can help, not
Proposals may be more lengthy
always key

10. Source Advantages Disadvantages
Community Foundations Much like large-family foundations Host of foundations within
Staff may be sufficient foundations
Most money is earmarked, special
funds
Small-Family Foundations May fund ongoing operating Hard to access, no professional
expenses staff
Personal influence with board Often not large sums of money
members helps Without personal influence, may not
Guidelines often broad be possible
Not very fussy about grant format
Can be source of large sums of
money Large sums of money aren't
Smaller amounts of money may be ongoing Hard to get around staff
ongoing Must be within their guidelines
Large Corporations / Corporate
Often accessible, professional staff Not likely to contribute if not
Foundations
May be tied to volunteer headquartered locally or have a
involvement public consumer base
Business strategy may be clear Often want board representation
Source of cause-related marketing

11. Source Advantages Disadvantages
Very informal approach
Money may be ongoing Small amounts of money
Small Corporations Personal connections will Narrow range of interest
suffice Personal contacts are key
Neighborhood focus will help
Generally can't be a start-up
organization
Steady source of relatively
Must be social service and fit
Federated Funds (United large sums of money
priority focus
Ways, United Arts, Clear process
Very lengthy entry process
Combined Health Appeal) Professional staff, can be
Very time consuming as must be
agency staff driven
part of yearly fund raising process,
with periodic in-depth review

12. Storing Information
 Do you have an adequate donor
management software system. Is the data
secure?
 Let’s Talk

13. Gift Range Chart
A helpful tool in planning and charting your progress

14. Customized Prospect Lists
 Under $100
 Major Donors $500 and above
 Cultivation
 Proposals
 Planned gifts
 Events

15. Solicitation Tools
 Direct Mail – snail mail
 One on One
 Telephone
 Events; large and small
 Email
 Newsletters
 Case Statements
 Proposals
 Letters
 Cold calling

16. Outcome /Gifts
What kinds of recognitions are you going to provide your
donors? This depends on what you have to offer
 Newsletter lists
 Website donor walls
 Naming opportunities
 Sponsorship recognition
 Recognition events
 Gifts
 Media placements
 Paid advertising

17. TIPS
 Create a calendar
 When are proposals due? Check websites for info on
corps./fdns/govt.
 Events require special calendars all their own
 If I spoke to major donor A in January, when should I contact
her again? How?
 Be vigilant and aware of government grant opportunities
 Have regular fundraising meetings to discuss ideas/progress/
status
 Don’t leave anything to the last minute – opportunities can
easily pass by

18. Social Media Fundraising
This is the newest vehicle and it’s changing by
the minute.
For up-to-the-minute information on this
emerging trend, visit: www.techsoup.org and
read their blog – regularly. It’s full of great
resources and ideas

19. More Ideas
“Ten for Ten”
Get 10 supporters to each ask 10 people for $10
each. Presto $1,000! You can change this to
$15,625 by changing the numbers to 25 people
asking 25 people for $25 each. This can also give
you a bunch of new donors!

20. More Ideas
PARTY!!
Ask supporters to have a dinner in their home
and invite their friends. Have a staff person
do a short presentation on your organization
followed by a testimonial from the evening's
host. Then, give the guests the chance to
make a gift. Make sure to get names and
addresses so you can properly thank guests
and get them on your list.

21. More Ideas
Yard Sale
Ask supporters to donate their unwanted
items and hold a big yard sale. Publicize it
beforehand to let the community know what
you're doing and that you are trying to raise
$1,000. Donate any leftovers to a local thrift
store.

22. More Ideas
"Non Event"
Example: "No Ball at All"
Create a fictitious event and send out
invitations asking people to buy "tickets"
to this event that won't take place. It's a
great theme for a mailing and usually
works well

23. More Ideas
Birthday Gift
Ask for donations to your organization in honor
of your birthday. Most of us have more than we
need anyway, so ask friends and family to make
a gift in honor of your special day. Facebook has
a way to easily ask online friends to make a gift
and you can set a goal so that others know how
much you are trying to raise.

24. More Ideas
Email Campaign
Launch a viral email campaign. Write a short,
compelling email and send to everyone you
have email addresses for. Be sure to say that
you are trying to raise $1,000. Include a link to
your "Donate Now" button online. Then ask the
reader to forward the email on to others who
might be interested.

25. More Ideas
Upgrade
Upgrade an existing donor. Look through your
current donor list and find someone who has
given $500 in the past year or so. Invite them
for a tour of your facility and ask them to make
a $1,000 gift.

26. Questions