How to Create a Development Plan for Your Nonprofit: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating a development plan can feel like trying to build a house without blueprints—you're grabbing tools and materials, but there’s no clear path to the finished product. A well-crafted plan is your nonprofit’s roadmap to fundraising success, helping you focus your efforts, allocate resources wisely, and hit your revenue goals. Let’s dive into how you can create a nonprofit development plan that works for your nonprofit, all while avoiding the overwhelm.

Why Your Nonprofit Needs a Development Plan

If your nonprofit is operating without a clear development plan, you’re not alone. Many nonprofits find themselves in reactive fundraising mode, constantly hustling to catch up on revenue needs without a strategic path forward. But here’s the reality: a nonprofit development plan isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s essential for sustained growth. A good plan will keep your team aligned, your board engaged, and your mission moving forward.

1. Set Clear and Specific Goals

The first step in creating your fundraising plan is setting clear, specific, and measurable goals. This isn’t just about saying, “We want to raise $100,000.” Be intentional:

• Annual Revenue Goals: What’s your target revenue for the year? Break it down by each fundraising source—grants, individual giving, events, corporate sponsorships, etc.
• Program Goals: Are there specific programs that need funding? How much is required to fully fund them?
• Donor Acquisition and Retention: How many new donors do you want to acquire? What’s your retention goal?

Pro Tip: Use SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to ensure your objectives are not just wishful thinking but actionable targets.

2. Identify Your Key Fundraising Strategies

Once your goals are in place, it’s time to outline the strategies you’ll use to meet them. This section of your nonprofit development plan is your playbook—it defines the key fundraising activities your nonprofit will focus on.

Here’s a look at some common strategies you might include:

• Individual Giving: Appeal campaigns, major gifts, monthly giving programs, and peer-to-peer fundraising.
• Grants: Researching opportunities, writing proposals, and maintaining funder relationships.
• Events: In-person galas, virtual fundraisers, and community events.
• Corporate Partnerships: Sponsorships, cause marketing, and employee giving programs.
• Planned Giving: Cultivating legacy gifts through wills, trusts, and bequests.

Pro Tip: Diversify your revenue streams to avoid becoming overly dependent on one source of funding. A healthy mix of individual giving, grants, and events can help stabilize your nonprofit’s finances.

3. Define Action Steps and Assign Roles

The success of your fundraising plan depends on execution, which means every strategy needs a set of action steps and assigned roles. This section is all about breaking down each fundraising strategy into manageable tasks and determining who will be responsible for what.

• Action Steps: List each specific action required to implement the strategy. For example, if one of your strategies is major gift solicitation, your action steps might include identifying prospects, crafting personalized pitches, and scheduling meetings.
• Roles and Responsibilities: Assign each task to a specific person—whether it’s your development director, an enthusiastic board member, or a volunteer. This helps ensure accountability and keeps your plan from gathering dust on the shelf.

Pro Tip: Be realistic about your team’s capacity. If you’re a small nonprofit, prioritize the strategies that have the highest return on investment and are achievable with your current resources.

4. Create a Fundraising Calendar

A nonprofit development plan without a timeline is like a GPS with no directions. A fundraising calendar is your roadmap, laying out when each fundraising activity will happen throughout the year.

• Monthly Giving Push in January: Kick off the year by promoting monthly giving. Set up a campaign that runs for 4 weeks.
• Grant Deadlines in Q2: List all grant application deadlines for the year. Be sure to include time for writing, review, and submission.
• Fall Appeal Campaign in October: Plan your direct mail or digital campaign to coincide with end-of-year giving.

Pro Tip: A well-thought-out calendar will help you avoid the dreaded “feast or famine” cycle of fundraising by ensuring consistent revenue throughout the year.

5. Develop a Budget for Your Plan

Don’t skip this step. Your nonprofit development plan isn’t just about raising money; it’s also about understanding what it costs to raise that money. Outline the expenses associated with each strategy, including staff time, marketing materials, event costs, and more.

• Direct Mail Costs: Printing, postage, and design fees.
• Event Expenses: Venue rentals, catering, and decor.
• Software Subscriptions: CRM, email marketing, and donor management tools.

Pro Tip: Calculate the return on investment (ROI) for each fundraising strategy to ensure you’re maximizing your dollars spent.

6. Measure Success and Adjust as Needed

Last but not least, make sure your fundraising plan includes a system for tracking progress and evaluating results. Regularly review your fundraising performance against your goals, and don’t be afraid to adjust your plan if something isn’t working.

• Key Metrics: Track metrics like donor retention rate, average gift size, and fundraising ROI.
• Review Meetings: Schedule quarterly reviews with your team to assess progress and make necessary adjustments.

Pro Tip: Use data to drive your decisions. If a strategy isn’t performing as expected, analyze why and tweak your approach. Flexibility is key to a successful development plan.

Bringing It All Together

Your nonprofit development plan is more than just a document—it’s your strategic partner in fundraising. By taking the time to outline your goals, strategies, and action steps, you’re setting your organization up for success. And remember, your plan isn’t set in stone. It’s a living, breathing guide that should evolve alongside your nonprofit’s needs. So get started today, and watch as your fundraising takes off in new and exciting directions.

Ready to create a winning fundraising plan without starting from scratch? Grab our comprehensive Development Plan Template, designed specifically for nonprofits like yours. It includes easy-to-follow steps, action-packed strategies, and all the tools you need to map out your fundraising success. Don’t miss this opportunity to simplify your planning process and boost your fundraising efforts. Get your Development Plan Template today and take the first step toward a more sustainable future for your nonprofit!