Preparing a sustainable fundraising strategy
A fundraising strategy sets out what an organisation’s funding needs are likely to be, over a future period and outlines how the organisation intends to raise money and meet those needs. When preparing a sustainable fundraising strategy the organisation needs to address a number of questions.
- What are the aims and objectives of the organisation, project, or event?
- What are you planning to do to meet the aims?
- What new projects do you want to set up?
- What resources do you need?
- What sort of money do you need and how much?
- Where to go for it? (find the funds)
- How are you going to fundraise?
- How and when to review your plans?
What resources are needed to develop a fundraising strategy?
- People – staff, committee members, trustees, volunteers
- Time – try to plan a timetable for completion
- Space to work
- Access to telephone, PC, email and internet access
- Commitment and enthusiasm for the process
- A nominated person or group to guide you through the process, write up and finalise the strategy
- Relevant documentation i.e. constitution, strategic / business plans, annual accounts
Suggested structure of a fundraising plan or strategy
- Executive summary
- Aims and objectives of organisation, project or event
- Cases for support linked to aims, objectives and outcomes
- Review of fundraising
- Trends for review that might continue
- Future funding priorities
- Action plan
- Monitoring and review
