9 key points of a comprehensive fundraising strategy

Fundraising is essential to achieving your organization’s mission and goals, and a well-crafted strategy can help ensure that the organization is able to secure the resources it needs to thrive. A comprehensive fundraising strategy is a plan that outlines how an organization will raise funds to support its mission and goals.

Below are the 9 key points of a comprehensive fundraising strategy:

1. Clear goals: The fundraising strategy should clearly define the organization’s fundraising goals. This could include specific targets for fundraising dollars, number of donors, or other metrics that the organization wants to achieve.
2. Analysis of past fundraising performance: The fundraising strategy should include an analysis of the organization’s past fundraising performance to identify strengths and weaknesses and to inform future strategy.
3. Understanding of the donor base: The fundraising strategy should include an understanding of the organization’s donor base, including their interests, giving patterns, and motivations for giving.
4. Targeted fundraising techniques: Include a range of targeted fundraising techniques that are tailored to the organization’s donor base and fundraising goals. This could include direct mail, online fundraising, major gifts, events, and corporate partnerships.
5. Timeline: Set a defined timeline for fundraising activities, including specific fundraising campaigns, events, and outreach activities throughout the year.
6. Budget: Outline a breakeven point on investment, cost to acquire, average gift, and the costs associated with fundraising activities and the expected return on investment.
7. Evaluation and measurement: Determine the Key Performance Metrics for evaluating and measuring the success of fundraising activities, including regular reporting on progress toward fundraising goals and analysis of donor retention rates and giving patterns.
8. Integration with other organizational activities: Integrate with other organizational activities, such as marketing and communications, to ensure consistency and alignment with the organization’s overall mission and goals.
9. Communication and stewardship plan: Be sure to communicate with donors and steward relationships to ensure continued engagement and support.

Overall, a comprehensive fundraising strategy should be a dynamic and flexible plan that can adapt to changing circumstances and priorities while remaining focused on achieving the organization’s fundraising goals.