Fundraising can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re working part-time. You know you need a strategy, but who has time for a 20-page fundraising plan? Good news:
you don’t need one.
A simple, one-page fundraising plan can help you stay focused, organized, and—most importantly—effective. Here’s how to create one in less than an hour.
Step 1: Define Your Fundraising Goal
Before anything else, get crystal clear on your goal. Instead of saying,
“We need more donations,” make it specific:
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How much do you need to raise? (e.g., $10,000 in six months)
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What will the money fund? (e.g., scholarships, equipment, operations)
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By when? (Set a deadline to create urgency.)
The more specific your goal, the easier it is to create a plan that works.
Step 2: Identify Your Best Donors
Not all donors are the same, and that’s okay. Focus your energy on the ones most likely to give.
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Who has donated before? Prior donors are more likely to give again.
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Who has a personal connection to your cause? Volunteers, community members, or beneficiaries can become strong supporters.
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Who has the capacity to give more? A small group of major donors can make a huge impact.
Make a short list (even just 10-20 names) of people to focus on.
Step 3: Choose 3 Simple Fundraising Tactics
You don’t need a dozen strategies. Pick three that align with your time and resources. Here are a few effective ones:
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Personalized email outreach – Send heartfelt, direct emails to past donors. 🔹
Peer-to-peer fundraising – Encourage your supporters to ask their networks for donations.
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Recurring giving campaign – Convert one-time donors into monthly givers.
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Social media storytelling – Share impact stories and donation links.
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Matching gifts – Partner with a donor or business to match contributions.
Choose the three that best fit your audience and capacity, then focus on executing them well.
Step 4: Create a Simple Timeline
A fundraising plan is only useful if you actually follow it! Map out a
realistic timeline so you know what to do and when.
🗓Week 1: Finalize donor list & draft emails.
🗓Week 2: Launch your campaign (email + social media).
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Week 3-4: Follow up with donors, share updates, and encourage peer fundraising.
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Week 5: Send last-chance reminders before deadline.
Keep it simple. Small, consistent action beats a complicated plan that never gets executed.
Step 5: Track Progress & Adjust
Check in weekly to see what’s working. Are emails getting responses? Are donors engaging? If something isn’t working, pivot!
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What’s working? Do more of that.
✅ What’s not? Adjust your messaging or outreach strategy.
✅ Who needs follow-up? A personal reminder can make a big difference.
Ready to Get Started?
Your one-page fundraising plan doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to be actionable. Start small, focus on what works, and build from there.
Need a simple way to track donors and donations? Check us out at
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fundraising software designed for busy fundraisers like you.
