Why Most Nonprofits Struggle to Raise Money And What Fixes It
My name is Rooney, and I am a fundraising strategist.
After working as a founder, board member, and fundraising consultant, contributing to raising over $5M, I’ve noticed something consistent:
Struggling nonprofits almost always have one of two problems:
They’re speaking to the wrong funding audience.
Or
They don’t have a structured fundraising process.
Many believe fundraising is about finding wealthy people and asking for money.
That’s why so many end up chasing, convincing, and feeling like they’re begging.
But successful and sustainable fundraising works differently.
It requires identifying the individuals, businesses, and grantors with the strongest reason to support your mission, and then guiding them through a thoughtful, structured, repeatable process that earns their commitment.
That work begins with a clear fundraising plan.
What a Strong Fundraising Plan Does
A proper fundraising plan answers five critical questions:
- How much are we raising, and why?
- Who are the specific audiences best aligned with our mission?
- Where do we find them and how do we attract them daily?
- What step-by-step process moves them from interest to investment?
- What are we asking for funding for?
- Who is responsible for execution?
- What content and materials do we need to execute?
- And how much will it cost us to reach our fundraising goal
When these are clearly defined, fundraising becomes structured, targeted, and predictable rather than scattered and reactive.
How to Build A Solid Fundraising Plan
Building the plan is not simply a matter of writing it alone at your desk. The process itself is just as important as the document it produces.
It activates your board, secures buy-in from leadership, and gets your whole organization committed to execution.
The process follows three steps, each serving a critical purpose.
Step 1: Collect Structured Input from Across the Organization
This step involves distributing a structured planning form to everyone: board members, staff, and volunteers. The right form draws out their best thinking and invites leadership to decide, concretely, how they’ll support the fundraising drive. This is where genuine board engagement begins.
This step matters because people support plans they help create.
Step 2: Synthesize and Structure the Ideas
This step matters because raw ideas do not automatically become a strategy. Someone must shape them into a practical, executable plan. Without this synthesis, planning sessions often result in enthusiasm but no clear direction.
Step 3: Formal Adoption and Alignment
Finally, leadership gathers to review, refine, and formally adopt the plan as the organization’s working document. Responsibilities are clarified, and execution begins with a shared understanding.
This step matters because a plan that is not formally adopted is rarely implemented. Formal adoption creates accountability and signals to the entire organization that fundraising is a shared responsibility.
When these three steps are completed properly, you do not simply have a document. You have alignment, ownership, and momentum.
How We Can Work Together
If you'd like support in building your board-backed fundraising plan, I offer two options.
1. Done-with-you guidance — $1,497
We work together through the full three-step process: initiating structured input, synthesizing a strategic plan, and facilitating leadership adoption. You leave with a clear, targeted fundraising plan and aligned leadership ready to execute. You pay 50% to get started and 50% at the end.
2. Fundraising Planning Toolkit — $197
If you prefer to lead the process yourself, get the fundraising planning toolkit. The planning toolkit includes the:
- structured planning form and email template to send out the form to everyone across the organization
- fundraising planning guide to synthesize all ideas and build the fundraising plan,
- facilitation guide to facilitate adoption and initiate execution.
- Step-by-step instructional support to help you execute confidently.
- and direct email access for questions as you execute
Make payment and have the toolkit emailed to you. One-time payment, lifetime access.
If you are serious about building a fundraising strategy and plan that earns leadership commitment and positions your organization for consistent funding, choose the path that fits your level of support and begin the process.
Those who plan together, execute together.