“Here’s what we’re trying to do. Here’s why and how.” Mike Zywina on creating a fundraising strategy that stays live
Today at Fundraising on the Margins, I attended a session on how to create a collaborative fundraising strategy that doesn’t languish on a shelf, given by Mike Zywina of Lime Green Consulting. It was great to get to hear him speak as I’ve admired his work in this area for many years. My notes are here.
The problem is when organisations develop a fundraising strategy, the focus is on it as an end product. The focus is often too much on the written piece and not enough on the collaboration – talking, discussing, looking at where there’s consensus. Often a lot of work goes into fundrasising strategies, but they don’t embed meaningful change.
There is a better way!
1. Set the context collaboratively
2. Make decisions collaboratively
3. Launch your strategy in the right way
Bringing people together. Workshop might not be the best word, but:
Who? Not just senior leaders. People with relationships at other levels. Light sessions, or srveys to get their input.
How? In room or online (have found ways of doing it effectively – needs its own planning).
When? Need clear process and timeline – not rushed but to get it over the line.
So, collaboration to set the context:
What are we trying to achieve?
How do we currently raise money?
What holds us back?
What are the untapped opportunities? What are you most excited about doing that we’re not doing at the moment?
This provides the right context for objective decision-making.
Collaborative decision-making
Prioritising types of fundraising – try not to spread yourself too thinly. What should we avoid doing? This is not negative – it’s hugely positive, as it frees up time to do stuff we’re really good at.
Fundraising infrastructure? Messages, comms materials, financial forecasting, targets, resources, risk, supported expected from team
Launching your strategy in the right way
Even if you’ve had a good process, it can fall down here and not get embedded.
- Do a short exec summary – process, decisions taken, manifesto, and what looking to achieve and when – this is useful internally.
- Launch sessions with your team
- Reflect it in key places – eg job descriptions, annual plan. Annual budget
- Make it visible – statement on a wall
- Have check in points along the way to fine tune and celebrate it
Benefits of having a collaborative fundraising strategy
Consensus
Clarity
Confidence
Culture
