Progression Tracker
Introduction
Do You Need a Funding Plan?
Introduction to the Six Steps
Step 1: Establish Priorities
Step 2: Assess Capacity
Step 3: Set Fundraising Goals
Step 4: Identify Funding Sources
Step 5: Evaluate & Select Funding Sources
Step 6: Write & Implement Plan
Sample Finance Plans
List of Case Studies
References & Additional Resources
Do You Need a Funding Plan?
Introduction to the Six Steps
Step 1: Establish Priorities
Step 2: Assess Capacity
Step 3: Set Fundraising Goals
Step 4: Identify Funding Sources
Step 5: Evaluate & Select Funding Sources
Step 6: Write & Implement Plan
- The Basics
- Timing
- Evaluating your fundraising efforts
- Next Steps
Sample Finance Plans
List of Case Studies
References & Additional Resources
Step 6 (continued). Creating your Plan - Evaluating your Fundraising Efforts![](images/finance/background2.jpg)
6. Write down what you hope to accomplish from these strategies. Your goals will
include obtained funds, but may also include media exposure, new resources, recruitment
of volunteers/members, etc. Be as specific as possible.
![Graphic showing a post-it note that reads "Don't Forget!"](images/finance/dforget.jpg)
![Graphic showing a post-it note that reads "Don't Forget!"](images/finance/dforget.jpg)
7. Since your fundraising plan should be a dynamic document, set up a time
in six months or a year to assess your plan. This assessment is a time to evaluate
your progress, update funding opportunities, and make necessary changes to your
strategy. In evaluating the plan every year, you can use the capacity assessment
questions from Step 2 as well as the benchmark
questions below:
- Do you have a surplus at the end of the year? If so, is it larger than last year's?
- What is your donor renewal rate? How does that compare to previous years?
- How long could your organization survive without new donors?
Is your donor base growing? How many donors are upgrading (increasing their donations) and how many are downgrading (decreasing their donations)?
- How are you doing in comparison to other watershed organizations in your area?
- Does your organization have a reliable supply of discretionary funds?
- Does your organization have an adequate supply of project funds?
- Does your organization have a sufficiently large and engaged constituent base?
- What is the percentage of actively fundraising board members?
- Are you able to both receive and pay money promptly?
Download a copy of this questionnaire (PDF)
(About PDFs, 1 pg, 68K)