Breaking Down Barriers to Fundraising

Remi Larson
Remi Larson

Fundraising can certainly seem like a daunting task. It can be overwhelming to think about the amount you hope to raise and not know how to get there. We’ve come up with some questions that will help guide you through the process of planning and executing a successful fundraiser!

The first thing you need to ask yourself is what is your fundraising goal? Think about what a reasonable goal is for your end of year total fundraising. Then decide how you want to get there–will you have one large fundraiser or several smaller ones?

To determine what an achievable fundraising goal is, and how to get there, consider your resources. What does your people power look like? Are there two of you or twenty? This will impact what kinds of fundraisers are feasible options. Once you know how many people are available to help, look at your funding. Do you have funding to get started? Where can you get donations? What can you do to raise money without funding or donations? Don’t forget to keep in mind how much time you have to plan and execute your fundraiser–if you only have two weeks, a large-scale fundraising event may not be possible.

If you’re feeling stuck, think about what other organizations do that seem to be successful. How do they market their fundraiser? Where do they sell? Who do they work with? Fundraising doesn’t have to be intimidating. Give these questions some thought and try formulating a SMART goal for your next fundraiser!