{"id":25662,"date":"2022-03-02T05:00:56","date_gmt":"2022-03-02T09:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.donorperfect.com\/nonprofit-technology-blog\/?p=25662"},"modified":"2024-10-09T07:16:27","modified_gmt":"2024-10-09T11:16:27","slug":"nonprofit-fundraising-goals-for-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.donorperfect.com\/nonprofit-technology-blog\/fundraising-software\/nonprofit-fundraising-goals-for-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Nonprofit Fundraising Goals for 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Has your nonprofit set fundraising goals for 2022? More importantly, is your nonprofit still on track to hit your donation targets by year end?<\/p>\n

According to data from exercise tracking giant Strava, most users who set fitness-related resolutions for the new year end up dropping them by January 19 (a day Strava employees lovingly refer to, \u201cQuitters\u2019 Day\u201d). Setting big, audacious goals for ourselves and visualizing the outcome is only part of the process, and many goals come with a lot of hidden or unexpected additional work. For example, running a marathon is a huge and exciting goal to work toward, but it goes far beyond daily training. It\u2019s easy to feel overwhelmed if you forget to account for your day-to-day tasks, plus the added laundry, meal prep, sleep needs, inevitable injury recovery, and other variables that might get in the way.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re well into 2022 and the excitement that came with setting your annual fundraising goals may have waned. Now is a good time for reflection and reevaluating what you\u2019d like to accomplish this year, how your goals fit in to your real, day-to-day work life, and whether your nonprofit\u2019s tools and strategies are up to the task.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Don\u2019t know where to start? Look to industry averages<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) launched the Fundraising Effectiveness Project<\/a> (FEP) in 2006 and produces annual reports and analyses of philanthropic trends in the United States and globally. While no two nonprofits are exactly alike, FEP reports provide the information you need to compare yourself to other nonprofits of similar sizes, missions, geographic regions, and more. These annual fundraising benchmarks reports are available in DonorPerfect<\/a>, and offer reliable insights to help you create fundraising goals that make sense.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Use your own data to set goals that are realistic, attainable, and optimistic<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n

How much money did you raise last year<\/a>? Over the last five years? Are there particular fundraising strategies, like direct mail appeals or online events, that work particularly well for your donors, or others that don\u2019t have as much resonance? Take some time to get curious and explore your nonprofit\u2019s data as if you were someone who has never seen it before. Look at both quantitative (i.e. demographics and giving amounts) and qualitative (i.e. any comments or notes included with gifts) information, and try to spot connections and trends<\/a>. What you find may surprise you!<\/p>\n

\"Dashboard<\/p>\n

Once you have your relevant information, set goals that are specific to your organization and your mission. \u201cRaise more money than last year\u201d is vague and uninspiring, both for your staff and your supporters. Do you have an idea for a new program, or something that could improve a current initiative? What do you need to get it off the ground? Could you accomplish it by recruiting a specific number of new volunteers, or raising the resources you need through a crowdfunding campaign<\/a>? Get creative, and don\u2019t be afraid to budget for a little risk taking!<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Keep your goals front and center<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n

Did you know that by visualizing<\/a> and having a physical representation of your goals, you\u2019re more likely to achieve them? Try starting your day with a clear picture of your nonprofit\u2019s progress toward your fundraising goals, and take a moment with your coffee to imagine the positive change you\u2019ll be able to make in your community once you hit them. You may find an extra boost of inspiration at the start of your day helps lead to better fundraising outcomes.<\/p>\n

\"Fundraising<\/p>\n