Introduction to Fundraising Planning: Taking Stock of Your Strengths

An Assets Inventory

Values, Vision, and Mission1. What values do you hold that you associate with your organization?

2. How would the world be different on the day that you could say that your mission is accomplished?

3. What is the mission of your organization?

Accomplishments4. What are your ongoing core projects or programs and what are the results or outcomes that you can

point to as a result of these efforts?

Projects/Programs Results/Outcomesa.

b.

c.

d.

5. What are the core competencies (e.g., skills and abilities) that enable your organization to succeed in these efforts--personal or organizational or both?

6. How do you endeavor to measure your effectiveness? (e.g., statistics; letters of appreciation,testimonials, assessments by outside bodies, awards and honors, etc.)

7. Do you attract any media visibility? If yes, in which media outlets?

© The Foundation Center

Board and Staff History8. What are some of the key qualifications and talents of your past and current board members and staff?

9. Have board or staff members received any recognition of their talents and contributions?

10. What percentage of your board members make financial contributions to your organization?

Organizational History11. How long has your organization been in existence?

12. What distinguishes your past work from that of similar organizations? List the specific ways in which your work differs from theirs.

13. What recognition has your organization as a whole received since its inception? (e.g., invitations to speak at conferences, workshops, public rallies, and legislative hearings; certificates of commenda- tion; quotations in scholarly or popular journals and magazines; letters of appreciation; etc.)

Funding History14. Name the institutions that support your work.

a. Foundations:

b. Corporations and businesses:

c. Religious sources:

d. Associations of individuals:

e. Others (e.g., labor unions, federations, governmental agencies, etc):

15. How many individuals pay dues, make contributions, or do both to support your work? What percentage renew their support each year?

16. How diversified is your financial base? For example, how many different sources extend support to you? What percentage of your total income does each comprise?

Other:

Introduction to Fundraising Planning

Selecting Prospective Funding Partners

(This worksheet is designed to help you identify your strongest potential supporters. The best strategy is to identify your entire array of partners before you pursue any single one on your prospect list.)

Assessing Chances of Support Sources Very Good Possible Unlikely Unknown 1. Individuals:

a. New Donors

b. Renewing Donors

c. Upgrading Donors

Fundraising Strategies: i. Face-to-face solicitation

ii. Personal letter

iii. Telephone

iv. Direct mail

v. Internet (e.g. Web site, electronic newsletter)

vi. Special Events

d. Other: Memberships

2. Foundations a. Community foundations

b. Local grantmakers

c. National foundations

3. Business and Corporations a. Neighborhood stores

b. Banks, utility companies, department stores, etc.

c. Corporations with headquarters or facilities in your community

d. Large national corporations

e. Multinational companies

© The Foundation Center

Assessing Chances of Support

Sources Very Good Possible Unlikely Unknown 4. Government (grants and contracts)

a. Local government units

b. State government units

c. Federal government units

5. Religious Institutions a. Individual churches, temples, and other faith communities

b. Metropolitan and regional religious/ecumenical bodies

d. Religious federated organizations

e. National religious bodies

f. International structures

6. Federated Fundraising Organizations yaW detinU .a

b. Other community chests

c. Alternative funds

7. Associations of Individuals a. Neighborhood/community-

based associations

b. City/State-wide associations

c. National associations

8. Labor Unions a. Local/state-wide unions

b. National unions

Don’t forget potential EARNED INCOME sources a. Products/Store

etis beW .b

c. Facility rental

e. Fee for service

© The Foundation Center

Individual Supporters

a. 20 Large contributions @ $250.00/each

Institutional Supporters

a. Foundations

b. Corporations and businesses

c. Government

d. Other: In-Kind Contribution from Organization

Membership Program

a. 50 Memberships @ $50.00

Other Fundraising Support

a. 3 Special events @ $1,000.00

Earned Income

7

© The Foundation Center

Summary of Fundraising Strategy

Introduction to Fundraising Planning

Case Study: Youth for Community Action

Jan.

Feb.

Mar

.A

pr.

May

Jun.

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© The Foundation Center

Fundraising Calendar (January–June)

Introduction to Fundraising Planning

Case Study: Youth for Community Action

In-k

ind

from

Org

aniz

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n

Earn

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1.Fe

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© The Foundation Center

Fundraising Calendar (July–December)