Annual Planning: Why it Matters and Where to Get Started

Whether you’re organizing a deep clean of your house, arranging an upcoming trip, or thinking about the next phase of your career, we all know that a blank planner and an unchecked to-do list can make our stomachs drop and our heads swim. And, as fundraisers, planning for your organization’s financial future can feel even more intimidating, especially if you don’t know where to start. 

You might be tempted to put off creating a robust annual plan because it’s scary to stare at a blank page, and it’s hard to set goals when you’re unsure how they’ll be accomplished. But, by being forward-thinking and developing a plan that speaks to your organization’s needs, you can stay focused on your fundraising goals throughout the year, know the purpose of each campaign you run, and you’ll have something to look back on if you encounter roadblocks or confusion along the way.

Nonprofits with written plans often see higher rates of donor retention and increased revenue. A written plan is also a great way to share a unified vision of your organization’s fundraising future with staff and board members – a former coaching client of RaiseMN spoke to the benefits of staff and board cohesion when it comes to annual planning, saying, “[through RaiseMN, we] made great progress in understanding how to better plan and implement a full-year development calendar; how to engage the board in those plans; and how to better delegate development tasks among staff and board.” For all these reasons and more, it is so worthwhile to develop an annual plan for your organization.

So, where do you start when it comes to annual planning? If you want to create an annual fundraising plan but are unsure what one looks like, think back on your 2024 fundraising results: what were past goals, previous successes, and challenges from the past year? Then, turn your thoughts to 2025. Jot down what you want this year to look like, including things that you’d like to continue doing from the past year. Start with general ideation, and then get into the specifics of your plan, such as anticipated results or a timeline for the communications work your annual plan will require. 

It might feel overwhelming at first, but if you set aside an hour or two every week or fold a bit of annual planning work into your daily routine, you will be one step closer to finalizing a plan that prioritizes the health and well-being of your organization and gives you peace of mind in knowing what lies ahead in the coming year. So, get started and know that the GiveMN team is here to cheer you on along the way! 

Interested in developing your fundraising toolkit even further? Check out our resources page for a variety of no-cost fundraising workbooks. If you’re interested in strengthening your knowledge and skills in a certain topic area – say, donor stewardship or multi-channel fundraising – check out our 2025 Learning Opportunities, perfect for early- and mid-career fundraisers.