Every successful nonprofit fundraiser starts with a clear, thoughtful plan. Whether you're running an online auction, applying for grants, or rallying community support, a solid fundraising strategy helps you stay on track and build lasting donor trust.
For teams working with limited resources, a plan isn’t just helpful – it’s essential. It brings focus to your efforts, keeps everyone aligned, and reduces the stress that often comes with fundraising.
Today, we’ll walk you through how to build a winning fundraising strategy, step by step. And to make things easier, we’ve included a ready-to-use template to help you hit the ground running.
A fundraising plan template is a reusable framework that guides your nonprofit’s fundraising efforts. It outlines your goals, tactics, target audiences, timelines, budget, and how you’ll measure success.
For busy nonprofit professionals, using a nonprofit fundraising plan template saves time and simplifies collaboration. It also standardizes your fundraising process so you don’t have to start from scratch with every campaign.
Plus, when you're navigating limited resources or unexpected challenges (and let’s be honest, those happen a lot), having a clear, flexible plan makes it easier to pivot without losing momentum.
The most useful fundraising plans include the following elements:
Before diving into the details, it helps to step back and get a big-picture view. Your executive summary is where you lay out what you’re aiming to achieve this year and how you plan to get there.
This section should be short and to the point. What’s your fundraising goal? What programs or services will the money support? And what are the main ways you plan to raise those funds?
Here’s an example:
“Our 2025 goal is to raise $120,000 to grow our after-school tutoring program. We’ll focus on three main strategies: applying for education grants, running a spring online auction, and launching a peer-to-peer campaign in the fall.”
By clearly stating your goals up front, you give your team (and any stakeholders) a shared sense of direction.
Use SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to stay focused. Avoid vague objectives like “raise more money”. Instead, define goals you can track and celebrate.
Here’s an example of a SMART goal: “Grow recurring monthly donations by 25% by year-end.”
When you're building your outreach plan, one of the smartest things you can do is get clear on who you're talking to and why they support you in the first place.
That’s where donor segmentation comes in. Instead of sending the same message to everyone, break your audience into smaller groups based on things like how much they give, how often they donate, how they’re connected to your cause, or what programs they care about most.
For instance, major donors might want detailed impact reports showing where their money goes. Monthly givers often appreciate consistent updates and personal touches. Corporate sponsors? They’re usually looking for recognition or partnership opportunities.
When you speak to each group in a way that matches their motivations, you’re more likely to build trust, boost engagement, and strengthen your relationships over time.
A good fundraising strategy outlines how your nonprofit will raise money and engage supporters. It should cover your marketing approach, the types of fundraising you’ll use, and any planned grant proposals. Aim for a balanced mix of digital and in-person methods that fit your mission and audience.
Here are some examples:
Break down your activities month by month or by quarter. You want to identify important deadlines and key fundraising dates.
Here’s an example: “Q2: Launch live auction in May. Q3: Submit grant applications by September 15.”
Outline the costs and expected revenue of each campaign. The budget should include staff costs, fundraising tools, and expenses related to promotional tactics.
Example: “Summer auction budget: $1,200 for donor prizes and ad spend. Expected income: $10,000.”
Track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of your fundraising and marketing efforts. These metrics help you see what’s working, where to adjust, and how to maximize results.
Examples of useful KPIs include:
Below is a complete fundraising campaign template you can copy into a Word or Google Doc and start using today. With this annual fundraising plan template, you don’t have to start from scratch.
ORGANIZATION NAME: ______________________
PLAN YEAR: ______________________________
PREPARED BY: _____________________________
Provide a brief overview of your fundraising focus.
Fundraising goal: $________
Strategic priorities: _________________________
Timeframe: ________________________
Define three (or more) Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals.
Goal 1: __________________________________
Goal 2: __________________________________
Goal 3: __________________________________
Identify key donor groups you will engage.
Segment 1: __________________________
Segment 2: __________________________
Segment 3: __________________________
List each fundraising initiative with supporting details.
Initiative: ________________________
Repeat this for each initiative.
Outline major fundraising activities by quarter.
Q1: _________________________________
Q2: _________________________________
Q3: _________________________________
Q4: _________________________________
Summarize anticipated costs and income.
Total expenses: $________
Types of expenses: $________
Projected revenue: $________
Net goal: $________
Choose how success will be measured and tracked.
KPIs to track: _______________________
Review schedule: _____________________
Tools/software: ______________________
No two nonprofits are exactly alike. What works for a large organization with a full-time development team might not suit a small, all-volunteer group. That’s why it's important to tweak your plan to match your team’s size, available resources, and how much flexibility you have throughout the year.
Use these tips to make the fundraising development plan template work for your unique situation:
Once your fundraising plan is ready, don’t just file it away. It’s not meant to gather dust. It's meant to drive action!
Start by walking your team and board through the plan. Share the big picture and get into the details. Make sure everyone understands the “why” behind your goals and the part they’ll play in reaching them. Assign clear roles for each campaign or donor group so nothing falls through the cracks.
Sharing the plan also helps to set up a rhythm for checking in (weekly or monthly meetings work well). Use those sessions to share progress, track what’s working, flag any issues early, and adjust your approach if needed. A shared spreadsheet or dashboard can go a long way in keeping everyone on the same page.
And when you hit a milestone? Take time to celebrate! Highlight team wins or just take a minute to appreciate how far you’ve come. It’s good for morale and a great reminder of why your work matters.
A clear, actionable fundraising plan is your roadmap to greater impact. It brings focus to your team and raises more with less busy work.
The fundraising plan template we’ve shared is designed to be flexible, practical, and easy to adapt. Adjust it as you need to create a fundraising plan that keeps your team on track and ready for whatever the year brings.
At BiddingOwl, we believe fundraising should be simple and accessible. Our free auction software helps nonprofits run seamless online and in-person events, process donations with ease, and keep supporters engaged every step of the way.
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