Why Most Fundraising Plans Fail (and How to Build One That Doesn’t)

Why Most Fundraising Plans Fail (and How to Build One That Doesn’t)

Let’s be honest: a lot of “fundraising plans” aren’t really plans.

They’re a collection of ideas scribbled in the margins of a notebook. A to-do list that gets buried under meeting notes. Or a spreadsheet no one has opened since last fiscal year.

And when things feel uncertain or urgent, even the most well-intentioned plan gets abandoned.
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So why do most fundraising plans fail? After 20+ years of working in and coaching nonprofit teams, here’s what I’ve seen over and over again:

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1. The plan is not aligned with real capacity.

Too many plans are built for imaginary versions of our organizations. You know the ones: the org with unlimited time, a full development team, and a budget for days. In real life, you’ve got a stretched-thin staff, a volunteer board, and one printer that jams every third sheet.

The best fundraising plans start where you are. They work with your current capacity – not against it. They help you make choices, not just lists.

Staff turnover is one of the biggest challenges that can set you back in fundraising and burnout is often the cause. If you build your plan around the staff you have and use technology to leverage that plan, you can mitigate burnout and turnover.

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2. The plan is disconnected from results.

If your plan doesn’t tell you how much money you can expect to raise – and from which methods – it’s not a plan. It’s a wish list.

A strong fundraising plan includes projections based on past data, average gift sizes, and realistic conversion rates. This lets you set expectations, allocate resources wisely, and make the case for investments when needed. I did an entire blog post showing you how to build those projections so you know what you are able to raise, not just what you wish you would raise.

No more spaghetti-on-the-wall fundraising. Just clear goals with measurable outcomes.

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3. The plan doesn’t assign real accountability (Or backup).

​Even when a plan exists, it often fails at the handoff: no one knows who’s doing what – or worse, everyone thinks someone else is handling it.

That’s why the final step of a good plan is assigning each task to a specific person. And then assigning a backup person to be cross-trained. This keeps your plan running when life happens – vacations, sick days, job changes – and builds resilience into your team. That’s why I wrote about building a responsibility calendar to protect your plan and ensure it becomes real.

No more scrambling. Everyone knows their role, and the show goes on.

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So what does a successful fundraising plan look like?

It’s clear. It’s doable. And it starts with what I call the MVPPP Framework, which is part of my Smart Start Fundraising System course:

• Message – Your compelling case for support
• Vehicles – The channels you’ll use to reach donors
• Prospects – Who you’re asking
• Partners – Who’s helping you ask
• Plan – Bringing it all together with structure and accountability

This framework works whether you’re a one-person shop or leading a full advancement team. It’s not about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things on purpose.

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Want to build your best fundraising plan yet?

My new course, The Smart Start Fundraising System, is officially here! It’s designed for nonprofit leaders who are tired of spinning their wheels and ready to raise more  –  strategically, confidently, and without burnout.

🎯 Inside, you'll learn how to craft a compelling message, choose the right methods, identify and engage donors, mobilize your board, and build a plan you can actually execute  –  all using my proven MVPPP framework.

✅ 5 Pre-approved CFRE credit hours available
✅ Four high-impact bonus trainings included
✅ A 21 page workbook plus tools, templates, and spreadsheets you can plug and play
💻 Enrollment is open now! Price is $549

Take a look, see what’s inside, and get started at your own pace:
👉 Take a closer look here.
Because passion doesn’t build a fundraising plan. But clarity? That’ll take you the distance.
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Cheers!

​PS - I hope you’ll continue the conversation by subscribing to Real Deal Fundraising. When you subscribe, you’ll get my e-newsletter, which includes the best articles on fundraising, productivity, and cool stuff every week. The whole thing is curated awesomeness as well as freebies like webinars, instructional videos, and whatever else I can put together to be helpful to you!

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​If you liked this…

• Nonprofit Productivity and Time Management
• Goals versus Projections: What’s the Difference?
• Building Fundraising Projections for your New Fiscal Year
• The Responsibility Calendar: The Key to Making Your Fundraising Plans a Success
• Who’s Afraid of Burnout and Turnover? You Should Be.