Strategic Fund Development: Building Profitable Relationships That Last, Third Edition

Interfacing Your Fund Development Plan with Your Budgeting Process

Here’s the really big question: How does your organization set the charitable contributions goal for the fiscal year? Here’s the really bad answer: The charitable contributions goal depends on how much money our organization needs to do our great work for the new fiscal year.

Why is that such a bad answer? Because many variables affect your ability to raise charitable gifts. And one of the least important variables—yes, least important—is how much money you want and need to do your work.

Why is “how much you want and need” so unimportant? Just because you want it doesn’t mean you can get it. First, remember all those really bad choices that organizations make—and then reap what they sow? How does your organization compare to all those? Because how you compare to the really bad choices affects your ability to raise gifts.

Your fund development goal depends on internal and external variables. How much money you want and need is not the driving force.

There’s more—what’s happening in the outside world. Consider the effect of the external environment on your organization’s ability to secure gifts. For example: the economy, societal trends, demographics, technology, government regulation and legislation, nonprofit/NGO sector credibility, and more.

Still there’s more. Think about the factors within your organization (e.g., capacity and capability). For example: relevance of your mission and quality of your program; ...