Join me next Friday, Feb 19, as I lead a virtual retreat to help you create a detailed fundraising plan for 2010.

A virtual retreat is just what it sounds like – a time to step back and plan, but you can do it from home or your office.  You just need a phone and internet access.  We’ll be on the phone for a while, then I’ll give you an assignment and you’ll hang up and work on it.  Then we’ll get back on the phone together and do the next part.  I think you’ll really enjoy this format!

I’ll be taking you through the creation of goals, objectives, and action plans for your fundraising program this year.  We’ll talk about everything from special events to major donors, and I’ll share nearly a dozen templates and tools that I’ve developed and used over the years to help me raise money more effectively.

To read more or to sign up, visit http://getfullyfunded.com/simple-success-retreat

Yesterday, I led a webinar to teach people my “Simple Success” Fundraising Plan.  One of the things I shared was the 7 questions your fundraising plan MUST answer.  I thought you might enjoy them too, so here they are.

1. How much money do we need to raise?  You need a specific goal for your plan.  If you just want to “raise more money” you’re setting yourself up for failure.  After all, how much is more money?  $1 more? $100 more?

2. Where will the money come from?  You need a mix of revenue streams to ensure the health of your organization.  Will you raise money from individuals? Foundations? Events?  Don’t set a goal without knowing where you will raise the money.

3. Who will we ask?  Be specific.  Who will you ask for money?  This gets into creating lists of potential donors.

4. When will we ask?  Create a calendar of when you will ask.  Include grant deadlines, events, etc. to get a complete picture of your year.

5. How much will we ask for?  You need to think through the amount you will request from each donor.  You may have to do a litle research in some cases to find out how much is appropriate, particularly if you’re working with major givers.

6. How will we follow up on a gift?  You need to know how you will thank your donors, how you will steward gifts, and how you will build relationships.  Be proactive about this – not reactive!

7. How soon will we ask again?  Don’t be afraid to ask several times during the year for a gift.  If you only ask once during the year, I promise you that you are leaving money on the table!  If you are doing a good job building relationships with your donors, they WANT to support the work you are doing.  Make it easy for them by giving them multiple opportunities to give.

If you’re currently wrestling with a fundraising plan and you’d like help, I invite you to check out the virtual retreat I’m leading on Friday, Feb 19 to walk you through my “Simple Success” Fundraising Plan.  Get all the details at www.getfullyfunded.com/simple-success-retreat.