Free fundraising strategy template for nonprofits (10-step guide)

Running fundraisers without a clear fundraising strategy can feel like throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks. You’re busy, your mission matters, and guessing where to focus your time and budget just isn’t sustainable.

A strong fundraising strategy changes that. It gives you a clear plan for what to do, when to do it, and how each effort connects back to your goals. This guide walks you through a practical 10-step nonprofit fundraising strategy, including a free, customizable template that you can use to build your plan as you go.

Key takeaways

• Base strategy on your funding needs 💰 Map out your expenses and build your fundraising strategy around what your nonprofit actually needs to raise.
• Set measurable goals ⚖️ Clear, trackable goals increase your chances of success and make your strategy easier to adjust over time.
• Tell your story 📖 Strong storytelling helps supporters understand your impact and stay engaged.
• Use a calendar 🗓️ A fundraising calendar keeps your efforts focused and shows you what to do and when.
• Secure corporate sponsors 👩‍💼 Ask businesses to partner with your organization in exchange for recognition.  
• Practice donor stewardship 🫶 Retaining and nurturing relationships with existing supporters leads to more sustainable fundraising.
• Leverage the right tools ⚙️ Givebutter helps you manage donations, events, supporter data, and more, all in one place.

Download your free fundraising strategy template

This free template provides a straightforward, step-by-step approach to transforming your mission and budget into an actionable fundraising strategy. It’s built to help you connect goals, revenue streams, and timelines in one place.

The template follows the same 10 steps outlined in this guide, allowing you to fill it in as you go, stay organized, and keep your fundraising strategy realistic for your team’s size and capacity.

Freebie alert!

Download your free fundraising strategy template →

10-step fundraising strategy playbook for nonprofits

Beyond fundraising ideas, this practical 10-step system helps you turn fundraising goals into clear, repeatable actions your team can actually sustain. Learn how to build a realistic weekly and monthly strategy that connects your mission, budget, and day-to-day fundraising work.

1. Ground your strategy in your mission & real funding needs 🎯

Before choosing campaigns or channels, clarify how much funding your nonprofit realistically needs to run its programs, cover operating costs, and advance its mission.

This step helps you move from vague goals to a concrete fundraising target your team can plan around. When your strategy is grounded in real needs, fundraising decisions become easier and more credible to supporters.

Start by mapping the costs your fundraising strategy needs to cover:

• Programs 🎨 Expenses tied directly to delivering your mission, like supplies, equipment, or program materials
• Operations 👷 Day-to-day expenses such as rent, utilities, software, insurance, and transportation
• Personnel 👩‍💼 Salaries, stipends, and payroll-related costs
• Future goals 🌟 Planned growth like new projects, expanded services, or capacity-building investments

💡 Pro tip: Include realistic overhead costs so your strategy reflects what it actually takes to raise money sustainably, not just your ideal outcome. Be sure to factor this into your nonprofit budget.

More to explore

Discover the 7-step guide to strategic planning for nonprofits →

2. Set fundraising goals you can actually reach (& measure!) 📊

Once you know what you need to raise (and why), it’s time to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals, also known as SMART fundraising goals.

Set SMART goals for each revenue stream you plan to focus on, such as:

• Individual donations 
• Recurring gifts
• Fundraisers 
• Grants 
• Corporate sponsorship

Instead of setting one total annual target, break your fundraising plan into smaller, more manageable goals. This approach turns your overall strategy into clear benchmarks you can review monthly and course-correct as needed.

⚡ Example: Rather than “increase donations,” a measurable goal could be: Raise $1K more than last year through individual and recurring giving by year-end.

3. Find your best revenue mix 🧺

A strong fundraising strategy is not about doing everything. It’s about choosing a small, reliable mix of revenue streams your team can actually sustain.

Many nonprofits use multiple funding sources, but the most successful ones prioritize channels that align with their size, capacity, and donor base. Instead of chasing every new idea, focus on the methods that have worked in the past and intentionally build from there.

Common revenue streams to consider include:

• Fundraising events 🥳 In-person or virtual events that raise funds while building community
  
• Peer-to-peer campaigns 👭 Supporter-led fundraising that helps you reach new audiences
  
• Grants 💵 Program-specific funding from foundations, corporations, or government sources
  
• Individual giving 👤 One-time donations from supporters who believe in your mission

💡 Pro tip: Master one or two funding streams before adding more to the mix to avoid spreading your resources too thin. 

4. Identify your top supporters 💎

Your fundraising strategy should start with the people who already care about your mission. These supporters are often your most reliable source of revenue and your strongest advocates for future growth. In fact, research shows that people are 4x more likely to make a purchase when referred by a friend. 

Instead of treating all donors the same, focus on identifying which supporters are most engaged and most likely to deepen their involvement over time. Here’s how: 

• Segment your donors 🍰 Group supporters into recurring donors, major donors, first-time givers, and recently lapsed supporters who may be ready to reengage.
  
• Track engagement, not just dollars 👀 Analyze behavior in addition to gift amount. Donors who open emails, attend events, volunteer, or share your campaigns are often strong candidates for recurring or upgraded giving.

💡 Pro tip: Your top supporters are a valuable resource for fundraising planning. A short survey or one-on-one conversation can reveal why they give, what motivates them, and how your organization can better connect with people like them.

5. Craft a case for support that inspires 💌

Your case for support is the throughline of your fundraising strategy. It’s the clear, repeatable explanation of why you’re raising money, why it matters right now, and what a donor’s gift makes possible. When this message is strong, every appeal, page, and campaign is easier to execute.

Focus on one core message you can reuse across channels, then reinforce it with details that make the impact tangible:

• Center real people 🔦 Feature short stories, quotes, photos, or videos from beneficiaries, volunteers, or staff members to show who your work helps and why it matters.
• Back it up with numbers 🧮 Include concrete statistics that clearly demonstrate the need, such as the number of people you serve or the outcomes that donations support.
• Stay mission-aligned 💛 Connect every appeal back to your mission so supporters trust that their gift is making a meaningful difference.

💡 Pro tip: Make the ask easy to visualize. Tie donation amounts to specific outcomes (for example, “$50 covers one week of meals” or “$250 funds a classroom kit”) so supporters immediately understand their impact and feel confident giving.

6. Build a digital fundraising strategy 📲

On average, online giving accounts for 13% of a nonprofit’s total revenue. Your digital fundraising strategy includes every way you raise money online, from email and text campaigns to your website, social media, and peer-to-peer fundraisers.

Digital fundraising is most effective when it’s intentional rather than reactive. Determine which channels matter most for your audience and fundraising goals, then plan what, where, and how often you’ll share.

• Email campaigns 📧 Email remains one of the most reliable digital fundraising tools. Use it to send asks, progress updates, and impact stories throughout your campaign.
  
• Text-to-donate 📱 Remove friction by letting supporters donate in seconds via text, especially during events or urgent appeals.
  
• Social media 🖱️ Make it easy for supporters to spread the word with shareable links and one-click social posts that point back to your fundraising page.

💡 Pro tip: Most donors research online before giving. A mobile-friendly donation page, clear messaging, and multiple payment options can make the difference between someone clicking “back” and clicking “donate.”

7. Map out your fundraising calendar 🗓️

A fundraising strategy only works if it shows up on your calendar. Planning your year helps you move from reactive fundraising to a repeatable system your team can actually follow.

Start simple by breaking the year into quarters to balance fundraising, programs, and capacity without overloading any single month.

Your fundraising calendar should include:

• Donor communications 📣 Plan to regularly communicate with supporters outside of donation asks, such as impact updates, stories, and thank-you notes.
  
• Fundraising campaigns & events 💃 List every appeal, event, or peer-to-peer campaign so you can see how they fit together and avoid overlap.
  
• Giving days & mission-critical dates 📅 Mark key moments like Giving Tuesday, year-end appeals, and dates tied directly to your programs. Nearly a third of annual giving occurs in December—so planning ahead is crucial.

💡 Pro tip: Add program milestones to your calendar, not just fundraising deadlines. When fundraising aligns with what’s happening on the ground, your messaging feels more timely and compelling.

Dive deeper

Download your free fundraising calendar template →

8. Add corporate giving & matching gifts into the mix 🤝

Corporate giving doesn’t have to mean cold-pitching big brands or building a complete sponsorship program overnight. Focus on a few high-impact, low-lift options first:

• Matching gift programs 🪙 Many companies will match their employees’ donations, instantly doubling impact. Gift matching also increases donor confidence and follow-through. In fact, 84% of people are more likely to give if donation matching is offered.
  
• Event or campaign sponsorships 🧑‍💼 Local businesses are often willing to cover event costs or match gifts in exchange for public recognition, which helps reduce overhead and boost net revenue.
  
• Workplace giving 🏢 Some employers offer payroll giving or employee-driven fundraising. Let supporters know these programs exist so they can maximize their impact.

💡 Pro tip: Start with your current donors. Ask where they work and whether their employer offers matching gifts or sponsorships. Warm connections consistently outperform cold outreach, and it often takes a few conversations before finding the right fit.

9. Create a donor stewardship plan 💛

A strong fundraising strategy doesn’t end when someone gives. Donor stewardship is one of the most reliable (and cost-effective!) ways to grow revenue without constantly chasing new supporters, especially for small teams. 

Instead of “thanking people when you remember,” build a simple, repeatable stewardship plan that makes follow-up automatic and consistent.

Focus on two core areas:

• Plan your donor touchpoints 🗣️ Decide how you’ll communicate beyond donation asks. Your donor communications plan may include email updates, social media posts, event invitations, or short impact check-ins throughout the year.
  
• Show appreciation early and often 👐 Prompt, sincere thank-yous matter more than elaborate gifts. Share impact, celebrate supporters, and help donors see how their contribution made a difference.

💡 Pro tip: Keep stewardship manageable by setting clear commitments, such as monthly email updates, quarterly check-ins with top donors, or one annual appreciation moment. Consistency beats perfection.

Dive deeper

Strengthen your donor stewardship plan →

10.  Review your data & keep improving your strategy 📈

A fundraising strategy isn’t something you set once and forget. The strongest plans include regular check-ins so you can see what’s working, what’s not, and where to adjust before small issues become big problems.

Build simple review moments into your year:

• Monthly check-ins: Spot trends early and make quick course corrections
• Quarterly reviews: Compare progress against goals and rebalance your efforts
• Annual reviews: Use what you’ve learned to plan smarter for next year

Focus on a short list of meaningful metrics:

• Progress toward your goals 💰 Are you on pace, ahead, or falling behind?
• Donor growth & average gift 🎁 Are you attracting new supporters and strengthening existing relationships?
• Engagement signals 💬 Which channels are driving responses, clicks, shares, or attendance?

💡 Pro tip: Numbers tell part of the story, but conversations fill in the gaps. Pair your data with qualitative feedback from surveys, events, or donor conversations to understand the “why” behind the results.

Take the next step

Learn how to start a fundraiser from scratch →

Nonprofit fundraising best practices 

If there’s one thing experienced fundraisers agree on, it’s this: the strongest strategies aren’t complicated, they’re consistent. These best practices show up again and again in successful nonprofit fundraising because they’re realistic, repeatable, and effective for small teams.

• Start with real numbers, not guesses 💸 Build your strategy from actual budget needs, programs, and team capacity.
• Do fewer revenue streams, better 🧺 Focus on a small mix that fits your size before adding more.
• Plan for multiple outcomes 🥅 Set conservative, realistic, and stretch targets so you can adjust without panic.
• Turn strategy into clear actions 📋 Break goals into calendars, assignments, and regular check-ins.
• Prioritize donor relationships 💛 Consistent communication and follow-up matter more than launching new campaigns.
• Use tools that support consistency ⚙️ Centralized data and workflows make it easier to track progress and adapt.

Plan ahead

Craft your fundraising plan for the coming year →

Put your fundraising into action with Givebutter

A strong fundraising strategy comes down to a few core elements: understanding your need, the right mix of fundraising channels, a compelling story, and effective donor communication. When those pieces work together, fundraising feels less reactive and a lot more sustainable.

Givebutter helps you turn that strategy into action. You can easily launch a donation form, track progress in real time, accept donations across multiple payment methods, and manage all your donor activity in one place, so nothing slips through the cracks.

Sign up for your free Givebutter account and launch your fundraising strategy today!

FAQs about fundraising strategies for nonprofits

What is a fundraising strategy? 

A fundraising strategy for nonprofit organizations is the bridge between your budget and your day-to-day fundraising work. It defines how much you need to raise, where that money will come from, and which activities you’ll focus on so you’re not running disconnected campaigns all year.

What should be first in a fundraising strategy? 

Start with your real funding needs. Review your programs, operating costs, and growth plans, then work backward to set realistic goals for each revenue source. Many nonprofits get stuck because they prioritize tactics over grounding their strategy in the budget.

What informs thinking about fundraising strategy? 

Your mission, budget, past results, and team capacity should all shape your strategy. The strongest plans use historical data, donor behavior, and available staff resources to decide what’s realistic to take on this year.

What are the most effective fundraising strategies for nonprofits? 

The most effective strategies are the ones you can execute consistently. For many small and mid-sized nonprofits, this means a focused mix, such as individual giving, email appeals, peer-to-peer campaigns, and a single signature event, rather than trying to do everything at once.

What is a digital fundraising strategy? 

A digital fundraising strategy is how your nonprofit uses online channels like email, donation pages, peer-to-peer tools, and social media platforms to support your overall revenue goals. It works best when integrated into your broader strategy, rather than as a standalone fundraising effort.