I teach nonprofit professionals - over 5,000 and counting! - how to grow their organizations with practical, action-oriented templates and tools. From event sponsorship packages, grant proposals, board orientation handbooks, and everything in between, I focus on helping you save time, effort and precious resources. As a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), I've raised 25 million+ for other organizations, and now my passion is to help you do the same for yours. Join the weekly newsletter to get time saving tips, tricks and action plans you can implement today to accelerate your nonprofit.
Why most 5-year plans fail (and what to do instead)
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Hey Reader, Raise your hand if you've spent hours and hours on crafting the most perfect 5-year strategic plan, got the board to approve it, maybe even gave a presentation to all staff about it, and then...it collects dust. Most nonprofits use 5-year plans to check a box, but miss out on the fundraising opportunities it can bring. When used right, a 5-year plan can be one of the best tools for securing multi-year support. Funders want to know: If you use the plan as a tool, rather than purely an exercise, you will unlock deeper conversations that ultimately lead to multiyear funding. So instead of spending months crafting the perfect plan, here's what I recommend:
This last step is the critical. If you're not using your plan as a reason to reach out and meet with anybody and everybody, then you are missing out on huge opportunities to engage your donors. You don't even have to ask for money at first - ask for advice! The funding will come. Suddenly, your conversations become about the impact you plan to have, and how each person can be apart of that journey. Then when they're ready to commit, ask for multi-year support. This will transform how you're able to budget and plan for the next 5 years. Want a shortcut?The Strategic Fundraising Plan Template is a professionally designed Canva document that will walk you through everything you need to build a usable plan today - one that’s made for actually raising funds. This isn’t about making your plan “perfect.” It’s about making it useful. So you can start using it in donor conversations immediately. Cheers, Certified Fund Raising Expert (CFRE)
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Kay @ NonProfit Life
I teach nonprofit professionals - over 5,000 and counting! - how to grow their organizations with practical, action-oriented templates and tools. From event sponsorship packages, grant proposals, board orientation handbooks, and everything in between, I focus on helping you save time, effort and precious resources. As a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), I've raised 25 million+ for other organizations, and now my passion is to help you do the same for yours. Join the weekly newsletter to get time saving tips, tricks and action plans you can implement today to accelerate your nonprofit.
Hey Reader, You’ve got the venue booked. You’ve got the caterer lined up. You’ve got people registering for your next fundraising event…but are you leaving money on the table? Ticket sales and auction items are only part of your event's revenue potential. If you’re not maximizing event sponsorships, you’re likely missing out on thousands of dollars in support - and potential long-term partners! Here’s how to change that: 1. Start early.Sponsorships take time. As soon as your event is...
Hey Reader, You know how one great conversation can be the spark that ignites a lifetime of connection? It’s true in your personal life — and in your nonprofit life too! If you need to: gather compelling story content for your appeals create deep, meaningful relationships with your donors, beneficiaries, staff and volunteers nurture deeper connections You need to learn how to conduct an empathetic interview. My friend, Rachel Zant, has written this helpful, easy to read guide you can grab...
Hey Reader, If you’re planning a fundraising event and need to secure sponsors fast, I finally just launched the bundle so many of you have been asking for! The Ultimate Event Sponsorship Package includes all my most popular templates to secure, track, and steward sponsors - all in one professionally designed package for an additional 30% off. It’s perfect for executive directors, event planners, and teams who want to raise more money and build better sponsor relationships without starting...