THREE KEYS TO SETTING SOLID GOALS

It’s the height of budget season for many nonprofit organizations. For fundraisers, it’s a crucial time of year for setting up the future success of our programs.

How much can we raise? How many supporters will join in? Are we willing to stretch? Or should we aim for the predictably reachable? Will we let our constituents know what our goal is? Will that encourage or discourage support? Will it sound achievable to them? Will we update them on our progress? Will we let them know if we fail?

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

To set effective goals that can make your organization stronger, it’s essential know and consider three things:
1) The history of your program and specific campaign results
2) The current circumstances, both internally and externally
3) How much risk you and your organization are willing to assume

Absent these key pieces of knowledge, a goal is simply a guess or a wish. With it, your goal becomes a strong roadmap. Because goals can have a big emotional impact on your staff and on your donors, be knowledgeable and aware when you set them, and then be prepared to see them through.