As the year comes to an end we have the opportunity to reflect on our lives, give thanks, and plan for the coming year. We reflect on family, our relationships with friends and community, and often our work-life. With this column we offer 10 questions you can use to reflect on your role as a professional or volunteer fundraiser.
1. Did you meet your fundraising goals and your priorities? Note: this question has two parts. Success is about more than meeting your financial goal, it includes raising the money you need for the priorities you defined at the beginning of the year.
2. Were you able to build or enhance your organization’s fundraising capacity and infrastructure? Did you upgrade technology? Hire new staff? Create a fundraising plan?
3. Were you able to increase the size of the average gift? You may have received a few large gifts, but what about the other gifts? Are donors increasing the size of their gifts?
4. Did you reduce your donor attrition rate? This is a question you will need to ask your data specialist about. Attrition refers to donors who gave last year but did not give this year. Securing new donors is great, but can you keep donors coming back?
5. Was your fundraising plan fully implemented? If you have a plan, did you implement it, or did it sit on your shelf?
6. Were you able to reduce your fundraising costs without negatively impacting funds raised? Reducing costs and reducing revenue is not a win.
7. Did new volunteers join your fundraising team? New people bring new energy and ideas and increase the number of people spreading the word about your nonprofit.
8. Did the number of annual donors who give to your organization increase? Did you meet your goal with a few large gifts, or were you able to grow the number of donors who give to your nonprofit.
9. Did you attend a workshop, webinar or conference to build your skills? We salute you for investing in your knowledge and expertise.
10. Did you have a growing number of donors give without being solicited? This number can reflect the effectiveness of your awareness and education activities. People give to organizations they know and believe in. We hope this number increased for your nonprofit.
These questions are offered as a reflection guide and to help your plan for 2016. We admire your belief in your community and your willingness to raise funds for organizations you believe in.
Copyright 2015– Mel and Pearl Shaw
Mel and Pearl Shaw join you in planning for 2016 and finding ways to support your development as a fundraiser. www.saadandshaw.com
