4. Set SMART fundraising goals

In this video, we once again hear from Redina who will guide you through the process of defining clear, actionable, and ambitious goals for your fundraising efforts. Redina also discusses how to set fundraising goals that match your organisation’s capabilities and capacity. After watching the video, you will be guided to an activity where you will create your own fundraising goals list for the next 12 months, using information from your database. Now, let’s watch the video and get started on setting effective fundraising goals for the year ahead.

Setting Fundraising Goals

Goals should follow SMART framework:

Specific: e.g., grow monthly donors from 150 → 250 in a year.
Measurable: e.g., gain 30 new donors in 3 months.
Achievable: e.g., add 10 more churches after last year’s 20.
Relevant: focus on priority donor types (e.g., cash donors).
Time-bound: set clear deadlines (week, month, year).

Ensure goals match your organisation’s capacity:

Staff involvement & time available.
Funds available for fundraising investment.
Goals should also be ambitious → inspire and stretch your team.

Sample of SMART Goals list

1. Find New Donors goal: Increase the donor base by 20% in the next financial year.

2. Keep Current Donors goal: Encourage 30% of current donors to increase their gift amount by 15% this year.

3. Increase the number of Regular Donors goal: Convert 50% of one-time donors into recurring donors within the next 9 months.

4. Grow engagement with local churches goal: Partner with 10 local churches for community-based fundraising events within the year.

5. Grow giving from Grant Making Trusts/Foundations goal: Secure funding from 5 new foundations in the next 12 months.

Using the information you have gathered from your database create your own fundraising goals list for the next 12 months.

4. Set SMART fundraising goals

Video Summary

Sample of SMART Goals list