Developing a Fundraising Strategy

1038 Words5 Pages
Developing a Fundraising Strategy A fundraising strategy identifies the financial and other expectations of your institution and outlines the activities, time scales and resources that are needed to meet these expectations. It is a working document that evolves as circumstances change, but it typically takes a forward view of three to five years. Why Do We Need a Fundraising Strategy? Having a well thought out strategy will help you to prioritise your projects and target your energy and resources effectively. It is also a useful tool for articulating your goals and activities to colleagues and other stakeholders to win their support and cooperation. The process of developing a strategy brings into focus the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that are relevant to your fundraising ambitions. What Should It Look Like? There is no set template for a fundraising strategy, though several common elements (outlined below) are included in most strategic plans. The important thing is that your plan should not be written and then filed away. Rather, it should be a living document, shared with colleagues and regularly reviewed and updated. Here are the common elements of most strategic plans. The overarching case for support This succinct statement should set the tone of what you want to achieve. It says why your organization exists, what it does, whom it benefits, how they benefit, why funds are needed and why donors should give. The case for support should be based on the vision and priorities set by the institution’s leader and should be the touchstone for all your communications with donors. What you want to achieve This section should set out why you are fundraising, detailing the individual projects and/or program areas for which donations will be sought. Each project description should outline the benefits the project will bring and identify the
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