Fundraising innovation starts with feasibility

Chances are, you’d be surprised to hear that the most important part of your next fundraising campaign happens before you ask for a single gift.

For many nonprofits, campaign planning begins with a big goal and high hopes. But hope isn’t a strategy. And ambition without feasibility can lead to donor fatigue, missed targets, and organizational burnout.

Whether you’re looking to grow your annual giving, prepare for a capital campaign, or unlock new donor segments, there’s one critical question you need to answer first: Is your fundraising goal actually achievable? And just as important: What would it take to make it realistic and inspiring?

Start with feasibility, not just passion

Even the best cause in the world won’t raise money without the right plan.

Before setting your fundraising goal, assess these three core areas to understand whether you’re truly ready to succeed.

We call this the three-layered feasibility check:

1. Capacity

Do you have enough prospects at the giving levels you need?

2. Willingness

Are your donors ready to give — and to give more?

3. Readiness

Does your organization have the internal structure, leadership, and strategy to execute the
campaign?

Feasibility isn’t just a checklist — it’s the difference between wishful thinking and strategic success.

Gift range charts: Your secret weapon

If you’re not using a gift range chart as part of your planning, you’re flying blind.

But here’s the truth: most organizations either skip this step or build it backward, starting with a number instead of building from donor reality.

A well-built gift chart:

Turns your goal into a roadmap.
Highlights gaps in your prospect pool before they become problems.
Gives your team a visual tool to focus energy and boost confidence.

Want to avoid the “we got stuck halfway to goal” scenario? Start here.

Expand your donor pipeline smarter

Raising more doesn’t mean asking harder. It means asking smarter and finding the right people to ask.

We’re seeing nonprofits grow significantly by tapping into innovative approaches like:

Data mining their CRM for hidden major gift prospects.
Using AI and predictive analytics (yes, even free tools!) to prioritize outreach.
Implementing structured board engagement for peer-to-peer discovery.
Targeting Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) holders and HNWIs based on aligned giving values.
Building out corporate and foundation strategies tailored to their mission.

The tools exist. It’s about knowing how to use them.

‘Winning on paper’ builds buy-in before you launch

Your internal champions, board members, major donors, key staff, aren’t just looking for passion. They want a plan they can trust.

That’s why we teach nonprofits to build what we call a “winning on paper” strategy. It’s a short, focused campaign roadmap that inspires alignment and investment before you raise your first dollar.

The 3 core elements:

The need: Why this work matters now.
The vision: What success looks like.
The roadmap: Your financial goals, donor segmentation, and key strategies.

When people see the path forward, they’re far more likely to say yes — and bring others along with them.

Want more tips? This is just a taste of our playbook to balancing fundraising innovation and feasibility. Download it today.

Share this page