The first step to achieving donor fundraising success is to have a definite plan. Undoubtedly, you would need something sustainable and applicable in the long term. However, the big question is: how do you build up a really solid plan?

No need to get worked up about writing a fundraising plan. This is because it’s not as complicated as it seems. Take a look at our ultimate seven steps, and try out our Super Fundraising Plan and get things going. With these tools, you’re almost already set up.

Step 1: Look back on the previous year

Take some time out to evaluate your actions and the results from last year. Using your donor management system, do a proper analysis and provide answers to these critical questions:

How much did individual donor activities amount to?

Where did you record the most success?

Where did you experience the most setbacks?

Step 2: Identify your resources.

Whether it is money, staff time, board, volunteers, technology, or others, make an overall assessment of your organization’s resources, and how they can positively affect your fundraising efforts next year.

Step 3: Identify areas where you would need to get fresh donors, replace existent donors, and upgrade donors.

Build up a strategic plan that is able to entice and lure in new doors, replace existent donors, and upgrade donors. There should be a unique approach for every donor segment. Combining these three segments can scale the amount you receive in donations in the coming years.

Step 4: Set goals for every activity

What goals do you have in mind for your fundraising activities? Besides the donations you receive, you should also have a goal to get more donors, increase board involvement, or attract younger donors. All your goals must be SMART: concise, measurable, achievable, and time-bound.

Step 5: Identify your three focus areas for the coming year.

A lot of organizations draw conclusions on how far they’ve gone based off their financial achievements. Growing future giving is simply working on things whose effects would be seen in the future, rather than bringing short term revenue. Single out three goals you would love to hit this year and integrate them into the fundraising plan of your organization.

Step 6: Put it on the calendar.

Regardless of if you use Outlook, a calendar app or a desktop planner, be sure to effectively plan out upcoming activities. Be sure to prioritize around vacations, programmatic events, and potential busy times for the organization.

Step 7: Make resolutions to set yourself up for success.

If you haven’t made a resolution to stick with your fundraising plan, it’s not too late. You can set out an hour to access the week’s work or reach out to donors, or get a partner that always reminds you of the goal in front of you, or you can even put in on the calendar. Also, be sure to check in with your team from time to time to assess progress and stay on course.