Rooney For Nonprofits

Add-On: Sustaining and Growing Your Fundraising System

This one-page guide provides actionable steps to sustain and grow your fundraising system, building on Steps 1-6 to ensure long-term financial stability. Use the provided sustainability guide, templates, and AI prompts for support. Refer to the course video for context and motivation.

1. Turn First-Time Donors into Long-Term Supporters

Why it matters: Personalized stewardship builds relationships, increasing retention (30% of first-time donors give again with strong follow-up).
Action Steps:

  • Send a personalized thank-you email or note within 24 hours of a gift.
  • Plan 1 impact story update (e.g., “Your $100 funded a teen’s mentorship”) for 30 days post-gift.
    Invite 5 donors to a mission event (e.g., virtual tour or volunteer day).
  • Pro Tip: Use the stewardship template to craft thank-yous and updates quickly.

2. Build Recurring Giving Programs

Why it matters: Monthly giving creates predictable revenue, boosting income by 20-40% with low-cost tiers.
Action Steps:

  • Create 1-2 recurring tiers (e.g., $10/month = 1 backpack/year, $25/month = 2).
  • Draft a sign-up pitch for email or social media (e.g., “Join our monthly heroes!”).
  • Set up Donorbox or Givebutter for recurring payments, test links.
  • Pro Tip: Use the recurring giving template to design tiers and pitches.

3. Create Lasting Partnerships

Why it matters: Annual partnerships with businesses multiply revenue (80% renewal rate with strong stewardship).
Action Steps:

  • Identify 3 businesses from your Step 1 funder list aligned with your mission.
  • Draft a partnership pitch using your Step 3 Double-Impact Offer (e.g., “$5K for impact + branding”).
  • Ask board members for 1-2 introductions to pitch within 2 weeks.
  • Pro Tip: Use the partnership pitch template for professional proposals.

4. Evaluate and Refine Annually

Why it matters: Annual reviews optimize your system, improving conversions (e.g., 15% boost from simplified pitches).
Action Steps:

  • Schedule a 2-hour board review session to assess metrics (e.g., conversion rates, retention).
  • Collect feedback from 10 donors via Google Forms (e.g., “What worked in our campaign?”).
  • Update 1 offer or channel based on data (e.g., add TikTok if social underperforms).
  • Pro Tip: Use the evaluation checklist to structure your review.

5. Build Multiple Fundraising Streams

Why it matters: Diverse streams (grants, events, earned income) reduce reliance on one source, ensuring resilience.
Action Steps:

  • Identify 1 new stream (e.g., small community event or crowdfunding campaign).
  • Plan a 30-day test (e.g., raise $1K via GoFundMe with Step 3 offer).
  • Assign a team member to lead the pilot and track results.
  • Pro Tip: Use the diversification planning guide to map new streams.

Next Steps

  • Apply Immediately: Start 1 stewardship action (e.g., thank-you email) or draft 1 recurring tier today.
  • Track Progress: Log actions and results in a journal over 4 weeks.
  • Plan for Growth: Schedule your annual review for next quarter to refine and scale.
  • Act now to secure your nonprofit’s future!