Developing a fundraising plan

Larger non-profits can benefit from hiring a staff person or two with a degree or diploma in fundraising and development who know how to develop and deliver a fundraising plan appropriate to the organization. Smaller ones may benefit from hiring a fundraising specialist as a consultant to help with their planning. The unfortunate reality is that many small and even medium sized non-profits place this responsibility on those without specialized training, and often aren't able to provide adequate training budgets for them, given the competing priorities. If that describes your organization, plan on buying a fundraising book or spend a few evenings Googling how to develop a fundraising plan.

Templates for fundraising plans will vary by author and type of organization. The common elements include:

• A version of the organization's mission

• An analysis of the historical and current fundraising situation of the organization

• A statement summarizing the case to give to the...