HOW TO SET GOALS THAT WORK FOR YOU

It’s budget season for many nonprofit organizations with July 1 fiscal years. That means it’s time to set goals. It’s a key part of what we do as fundraisers. Following our post from last week, here are some other important things to consider when budgeting.

How much can we raise? How many supporters will join in? Are we willing to stretch? Or should we aim for the predictably reachable? What internal factors might influence our potential? What about external factors? 

There are many considerations, yet each is important, because goals have the power to drive or stall your efforts.

To set effective fundraising goals that can make your organization stronger, it’s important to know and consider three things:

1) The history of your program – how has your program performed over time, and especially most recently. Map it out to the specifics of each effort you have initiated so that you have strong analytics on which to base your planning. And keep in mind that recent results are often a strong indicator of near-future potential.

2) The current circumstances – what’s happening inside and outside of your organization – what’s happening with donors, the economy, or other factors that might impact giving to your organization either positively or negatively.

3) How much risk you and your organization are willing to assume – this is where some open, early conversations with organizational leadership can be helpful as you shape your plans.

Be as knowledgeable as possible when you set your goals and then be prepared to see them through.