Making Your Purpose Possible Through Strategy
The critical relationship between strategic planning and fundraising
Written by
Purpose Possible Team Members
Susannah Darrow - Founding Partner
&
Natalia Garzón Martínez - Consultant
A lot of nonprofit professionals have heard the term “strategic plan.” Sometimes we are excited by it, and sometimes it feels like another task to add to an ever growing list of to dos. It seems appealing to go through a process that will help an organization align its programs with its mission, and define clear steps to success in the years to come. But how does it relate to the day to day operations, programming, fundraising initiatives? We see this tension with many of our clients, so let’s look at some specifics around how strategic planning is an essential tool for fundraising in your organization.
Establish or Reinforce Vision and Mission
Understanding how your vision and mission relate to your day to day operations creates accountability for your organization. When funders look through your organization’s messaging (website, social media, annual reports, etc.) they should be able to see a clear and concise alignment. A strategic plan helps you achieve this by focusing on:
Clarity and Consistency: You will have clear answers to questions around your what, your how, and your why.
Public Perception: You will streamline messaging so that the public's perception of your organization is aligned with community needs and donor expectations.
Internal Alignment: Your staff and board will have a framework for understanding the organization's impact, which is essential for engaging donors effectively.
Goal Setting and Competitive Advantage
By setting clear goals and strategic priorities, you are positioning your organization as a unique entity that can adequately compete with others. A strategic plan is a straight path to achieve:
Guided Fundraising: In having a clear direction you will clearly express to funders where resources should be allocated and why.
Unique Positioning: You will understand why your organization is uniquely qualified and positioned to receive support, giving you a competitive advantage.
Focus and Direction: Funders and donors will value clearly defined areas of need, and you will be able to target your applications and requests in a more focused way.
Resource Allocation and Long-Term Sustainability
We can’t finish this blog post without talking about sustainability! Prioritizing the present is necessary, but so is understanding how your organization will continue to be resilient and successful into the future. Sustainability is a priority in strategic planning through:
Resource Prioritization: You will identify priorities and resource needs, ensuring that fundraising efforts in the future are tailored to meet the changing needs of your organization.
Capacity Building: You will identify areas for building organizational capacity into the future, and fundraising efforts can be directed towards these operational costs.
Sustainability: You will have a clearer vision on the long-term sustainability of your organization, which you can communicate to donors to secure ongoing support and diversify funding sources.
All in all, strategic planning is not just a buzzword! It is a vital tool for nonprofits to achieve their purpose, fundraising included! By aligning vision and mission, setting clear goals, and ensuring long-term sustainability, your organization can enhance their fundraising efforts and secure funding to help make their mission a reality.
