What are the key factors in prioritizing fundraising activities?

Organizations can develop a strategic approach to fundraising that maximizes impact and sustainability. Regularly reviewing and adjusting priorities based on performance and changing circumstances is also essential for long-term success. Thanks dear colleagues....

The Main and first factor to consider is your fundraising goals. What are the specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) outcomes that you want to achieve with your fundraising efforts? How do they align with your organization's vision, mission, values, and strategic plan? Your fundraising goals should guide your decisions on what types of activities to pursue, how much to invest in them, and how to measure their success, as it will support a lot.

1. Alignment with your mission: Consider how well a fundraising activity aligns with your non-profit's mission and goals. 2. Potential for impact: Assess the potential impact of each fundraising activity. Prioritize activities that have the potential to make a significant impact on your fundraising goals. 3. Cost-effectiveness: Prioritize activities that have a good balance between cost and impact. 4. Donor preferences: Take into account the preferences and interests of your donors. Consider the types of activities that resonate with your donor base and have a higher likelihood of attracting their support. 5. Timing and urgency: Prioritize activities that can address urgent needs to ensure the sustainability of your organization.

Develop a Moves Management plan that outlines how different employees and volunteers can assist with donor relations, especially in regards to individual donors and in providing the program data that populates your collateral. Who gets to talk to the ED/CEO? How can your finance people strengthen the trust of your big donors? What kind of people do your program folks naturally engage? Combine this Moves Management plan with your donor segments, and you have the bulk of your individual giving manual.

The risk that I have seen trip up many nonprofits where I have worked, consulted, or volunteered is mission creep driven by fundraising opportunities. It is essential to be clear on whether a particular gift or partnership is going to effectively advance your mission or become a distraction or even drain. A few questions that can help: 1. Is this work that we would undertake if we didn't receive restricted funding? 2. Is this budget relieving or budget additive? 3. Who on the team would be needed to complete this project? Would I be willing to take other work off their plate to complete this activity?

For most of the life of our foundation (Chillin with Adam, the Adam Gaynes Foundation) I also ran a sales team at various investment banks. The way I was able to prioritize fund raising activities was to consolidate my professional, personal and philanthropic life into one always focusing on all 3 , 24/7 . This not only ensured that our fund raising initiative was at the forefront, it made it personal which wound up being the strongest selling point. Friends, colleagues and clients could feel my passion . This made it personal for them . It also showed them the kind of person I am and the integrity I possess. This resulted in us raising over $3.2mm since inception and has really honored my son’s legacy in a way I could have never imagined .