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

                        2
Why plan?

• Go from reactive to proactive.
• Provides a roadmap for your
  fundraising.
• Gets everyone on the same page.
Direction?
If you don’t know where you’re going,
   then any road will get you there.
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!
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?
Evaluate the past
•   How did it go last year?
•   How about the years prior?
•   What worked well?
•   What didn’t?
Strategy               Last Year   Two Years Ago   Include in    Notes
                                                   This Year’s
                                                   Plan?


Grants                 $           $

Special Events         $           $

Direct Mail            $           $

Major Gifts            $           $

Monthly Giving         $           $

Lapsed Donors          $           $

Online Giving          $           $

Memberships            $           $

Corporate sponsorships $           $

Product sales          $           $

Other                  $           $

                 Total $           $
Step 1

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

Fundraising assets raise good money for
 your nonprofit.
Organizational Assets
•   Compelling mission
•   Large public base of support
•   Name recognition
•   Well-known staff or Board members
•   Great facility
•   Others?
Fundraising assets
• Great relationships with local
  foundations
• Solid direct mail program
• High traffic to your website
• Successful signature special event
• Something else?
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.
Summary Calendar
       Grants   Events Direct   Major   Marktg Comm. other
                       mail     gifts
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
July
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Step 2

Set your goals
3 Fundraising Targets
1. Number of dollars to raise
2. Number of current donors to renew
3. Number of new donors to acquire
Decide on strategies
Which fundraising strategies will you use?
• Grantwriting
• Special events
• Direct Mail
• Major Gifts
• Online fundraising
• Others?
Make your goals SMART
  S = Specific
  M = Measurable
  A = Attainable
  R = Realistic
  T = Timely
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.
Make sure it works
Strategy                  Goal   Dollars    #Renewed   # New
                                 to raise   donors     Donors
Grant writing
Special events
Direct mail
Major gifts
Online fundraising
Others?
                 Totals          $
Step 3

Create a plan of
     action
Start putting it together
        Fundraising
          Targets



        Fundraising
         Strategies



          Action
          Plans
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
Strategy Details
Strategy Descrip. Target     $ Goal   Cost?   Who will By
                  Audience                    do?      when?
Grants
Events
Direct
mail
Major
gifts
Online
giving
Other?
For example
Strategy Descrip. Target                   $ Goal    Cost?    Who will By
                  Audience                                    do?      when?
Grants        write         Private        $25,000   $0       Me          deadlines
              grants        foundations
Events        Fundraising   Current and    $10,000   $2,500   Me,         Planning
              dinner        prospective                       committee   calendar
                            donors
Direct mail   Back to       Current        $10,000   $2,500   Me          Sep 1
              school        donors
              appeal
Major gifts   Cultivate     Current and    $50,000   $0       Me, Board   2 each
              and ask for   prospective                                   month
              major gifts   major donors
Online        Raise         Current and    $5,000    $0       Me          Nov 1
giving        money         prospective
              online        donors
Other?
Action Steps
Action Step   Who will do it?   When will it   What resources
                                happen         are needed?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
For example
Strategy: Grant writing
Action Step         Who will do it?   When will it        What
                                      happen              resources
                                                          are needed?
1. Research         Me                By March 1, 2012    time
opportunities
2. Prioritize the   Me                By March 7, 2012    Time
opportunities
3. Create a         Me                By March 10, 2012   Time
deadline
calendar
4. Write            Me                Before deadline     time
proposals
Marketing & Communications
• Clearly identify your ideal donor
  prospect
• Choose the key messages to share
• Choose marketing & communications
  strategies to reach them
Marketing & Communications
Strategy Descrip. Target     Goal   Cost?   Who will By
                  Audience                  do?      when?
Website
News
letter
Public
speaking
Press
releases
E-news
Other?
Step 4

Work the plan
Execute!
Step 5

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

Course-correct if needed
Monthly Checklist
•   Total dollars
•   Renewed donors
•   New donors
•   Goals
Planned vs actual
Review each strategy and goal.
Ask yourself
• How are we doing versus what we
  planned?
• What do we need to adjust?
Like this:
   Ready


    Aim


    Fire


    Aim


    Fire
Step 6

Celebrate!
Celebrate!
Don’t forget to celebrate when things go
 well!
Tip!
Focus on the fundraising activities that will
 give you the most “bang for the buck.”
Tip!
Reduce the number of special events you
 host.
Tip!
Individual donors are the largest source of
  untapped potential.
Questions
• Please type in chat at the bottom of the left hand
  viewing pane.




                            42
Contact Information
• Connect with Sandy on her website, www.GetFullyFunded.com
  or via email at sandy<at>GetFullyFunded<dot>com
• Connect with Sage
   – Email nps <at> sage <dot> com
   – Download the presentation and handouts from
      www.slideshare.net/sagenonprofit
   – Read our blog, http://www.SageWords.net.
   – Like us on Facebook,
     http://www.facebook.com/sagenonprofit
   – Follow us on Twitter, http://www.twitter.com/sagenonprofit
   – Join the discussion in our group on LinkedIn.
   – Watch and follow on YouTube,
     http://www.youtube.com/user/SageNonprofit
   – Pin with us on www.Pinterest.com/SageNonprofit
                                43

6 Easy Steps to Creating a Written Fundraising Plan

  • 1.
    WELCOME! 6 Easy Stepsto Creating a Written Fundraising Plan, featuring Sandy Rees
  • 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 2
  • 3.
    Why plan? • Gofrom reactive to proactive. • Provides a roadmap for your fundraising. • Gets everyone on the same page.
  • 4.
    Direction? If you don’tknow where you’re going, then any road will get you there.
  • 5.
    6 Simple Stepsto 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 Notes This Year’s Plan? Grants $ $ Special Events $ $ Direct Mail $ $ Major Gifts $ $ Monthly Giving $ $ Lapsed Donors $ $ Online Giving $ $ Memberships $ $ Corporate sponsorships $ $ Product sales $ $ Other $ $ Total $ $
  • 9.
  • 10.
    What are assets? Organizationalassets 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 • Greatrelationships with local foundations • Solid direct mail program • High traffic to your website • Successful signature special event • Something else?
  • 13.
    Choose assets Pick theones 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 Major Marktg Comm. other mail gifts Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • 15.
  • 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 Whichfundraising strategies will you use? • Grantwriting • Special events • Direct Mail • Major Gifts • Online fundraising • Others?
  • 18.
    Make your goalsSMART 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 itworks Strategy Goal Dollars #Renewed # New to raise donors Donors Grant writing Special events Direct mail Major gifts Online fundraising Others? Totals $
  • 21.
    Step 3 Create aplan of action
  • 22.
    Start putting ittogether 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 $ Goal Cost? Who will By Audience do? when? Grants Events Direct mail Major gifts Online giving Other?
  • 25.
    For example Strategy Descrip.Target $ Goal Cost? Who will By Audience do? when? Grants write Private $25,000 $0 Me deadlines grants foundations Events Fundraising Current and $10,000 $2,500 Me, Planning dinner prospective committee calendar donors Direct mail Back to Current $10,000 $2,500 Me Sep 1 school donors appeal Major gifts Cultivate Current and $50,000 $0 Me, Board 2 each and ask for prospective month major gifts major donors Online Raise Current and $5,000 $0 Me Nov 1 giving money prospective online donors Other?
  • 26.
    Action Steps Action Step Who will do it? When will it What resources happen are needed? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
  • 27.
    For example Strategy: Grantwriting Action Step Who will do it? When will it What happen resources are needed? 1. Research Me By March 1, 2012 time opportunities 2. Prioritize the Me By March 7, 2012 Time opportunities 3. Create a Me By March 10, 2012 Time deadline calendar 4. Write Me Before deadline time proposals
  • 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 StrategyDescrip. Target Goal Cost? Who will By Audience do? when? Website News letter Public speaking Press releases E-news Other?
  • 30.
  • 31.
  • 32.
  • 33.
    Regular review At leastmonthly, 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 Revieweach 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.
  • 38.
    Celebrate! Don’t forget tocelebrate when things go well!
  • 39.
    Tip! Focus on thefundraising activities that will give you the most “bang for the buck.”
  • 40.
    Tip! Reduce the numberof special events you host.
  • 41.
    Tip! Individual donors arethe largest source of untapped potential.
  • 42.
    Questions • Please typein chat at the bottom of the left hand viewing pane. 42
  • 43.
    Contact Information • Connectwith Sandy on her website, www.GetFullyFunded.com or via email at sandy<at>GetFullyFunded<dot>com • Connect with Sage – Email nps <at> sage <dot> com – Download the presentation and handouts from www.slideshare.net/sagenonprofit – Read our blog, http://www.SageWords.net. – Like us on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/sagenonprofit – Follow us on Twitter, http://www.twitter.com/sagenonprofit – Join the discussion in our group on LinkedIn. – Watch and follow on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/user/SageNonprofit – Pin with us on www.Pinterest.com/SageNonprofit 43