Moving beyond feast-or-famine fundraising for your nonprofit

In the early days, many nonprofits rely on bursts of fundraising activity — short campaigns that bring in funds, followed by long, quiet stretches. But as an organization matures, this stop-and-start approach can limit growth and stability. Shifting to consistent, strategic fundraising helps build momentum, strengthen donor relationships and support long-term goals. Here’s how to make the transition.

Lay the groundwork

The first step to an effective long-term fundraising plan is to form a fundraising committee. This should consist of board members, your executive director and other key staff members. You may also want to include some major donors and active community members.

Your committee should review past funding sources and fundraising approaches — and then weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each. Even if your overall fundraising efforts have been less than successful, some sources and approaches may be worth keeping.

The next step for the committee is to brainstorm new donation sources and methods and select those with the greatest fundraising potential. Its strategy should also outline the roles for board members to play in fundraising efforts. For example, in addition to making their own donations, they can serve as crucial links to corporate and individual supporters.

Turn strategy into action

Once the committee has determined where to seek funds and how to ask for them, it’s time to create a fundraising budget that includes operating expenses, staff costs and volunteer projections. After the strategy and budget have board approval, develop an action plan for achieving each objective and assign tasks to specific individuals.

Don’t let your fundraising plan run on autopilot. Regularly evaluate the plan and be ready to adapt it to organizational changes and unexpected situations. Although you want to give new fundraising initiatives time to succeed, don’t be afraid to cut your losses if it’s obvious an approach isn’t working.

Keep revenue flowing year-round

Waiting until funds run low to launch a campaign can create unnecessary pressure and uncertainty. With a strategic, long-term plan in place, fundraising shifts from a reactive activity to an ongoing strength. Contact us for help reviewing your current fundraising approach and, if needed, transitioning to a more effective one.