How can strategic thinking help you develop a successful fundraising vision?

A strategic plan, developed by the organization’s leaders, defines the vision for the future and identifies goals and objectives. It informs the organization’s decisions, growth, and goals. Further, it establishes a process in which the goals and objectives get realized so the organization can reach the vision. Follow these 5 steps to develop and launch a successful strategic plan: -Identify your current position -Define and prioritize your goals -Collaborate and build your strategic plan -Implement -Review, revise, and restructure A strategic plan will evolve with your long-term goals. Once your organization has achieved most of your goals it is time to create a new one, with new goals and objectives.

Strategic thinking begins with a clear-eyed view of where you currently stand. Performing a SWOT analysis, as suggested here, is a vital first move. It’s about knowing your playing field – your strengths could be leveraged, weaknesses bolstered, opportunities seized, and threats mitigated. This isn't just an exercise, it’s about setting the stage for informed decision-making.

Once you have completed your SWOT analysis, you can use it to develop a fundraising vision with monthly performance metrics. Your fundraising vision should be based on what you found in your SWOT analysis. For example, if your organization has a strong brand recognition and a loyal donor base, but a low donor retention rate, your fundraising vision might focus on increasing donor retention. You might do this by developing a more robust donor stewardship program or by offering new benefits to donors who give on a regular basis. Or, if your organization has a new grant opportunity but a competitive market, your fundraising vision might focus on developing a strong grant proposal and building relationships with grantmakers.

Once you identify your key strategies, measure progress and performance with Key Performance Indicators (KPI). You decide what KPI to use based on your goals and objectives. In your fundraising strategic plan consider the following KPIs: -Donor acquisition rate -Donor lapsed rate -Donor recapture rate -Second gift conversation rate -Monthly recurring donor growth rate -Fundraising ROI To decide which metrics to use for your KPIs, identify the intended result, select the right measurement, set targets and thresholds, and define the most important metric to measure growth.

A vision that isn't shared remains unfulfilled potential. Communicating your fundraising vision breathes life into it, turning it from an internal guiding light into a rallying cry for all stakeholders.

To communicate this vision statement to stakeholders, the organization could use storytelling, visuals, and emotions. For example, they could share stories of people who have been impacted by their work, and they could use photos and videos to show the conditions that people face without access to clean water and sanitation. The organization could also tailor its communication to different audiences and channels. For example, they could share their vision statement on their website and in their social media posts, and they could include it in their email newsletters and donor reports. The organization should use feedback and data to refine and improve their vision statement over time.

I worked with a client during 2020 when many nonprofits were not fundraising well. They wanted to create a social media presence. We created the below plan: 1. Relaunch a website and social media campaign to promote their mission and fundraising campaign. 2. Leverage current relationships to reach out to potential donors and corporate sponsors. 3. Organize fundraising events around current trends. 4. Sell merchandise. We helped to increase their merch sales by 22% and increased first-time donations by 12% that year.

As the saying goes—even the best-laid plans can go awry. Part of goal planning and progress is flexibility and adaptability. To achieve success you need both. Sometimes you will only need to modify your tasks to still reach your goals. However, goals change and you need to be ready to change with them. As you work towards your goals, identify potential obstacles and make adjustments when needed. Evaluate your progress and at each step look again for roadblocks and possible solutions. You don’t need to do this alone. Work with your team members during regular check-ins and through progress reports to determine possible obstacles and how to adapt your goals.