How to Create a Fundraising Plan: Free Template, Sample & Example

Fundraising gets stressful when every week brings a new expense to cover. You need money for your programs, support for the people who rely on your organization, and enough resources to keep things running. And if you're working with a small team, there's rarely much time left for planning.

The latest figures make the challenge clear. According to the Charities Aid Foundation's World Giving Report 2026, 61% of people worldwide gave money to good causes in 2025, compared with 64% the year before. That's a noticeable drop, and organizations can't afford to rely on donations arriving at the last minute.

TL;DR: A fundraising plan connects your income target with the activities, deadlines, and people needed to reach it. You don't need a lengthy report to get started. The seven-section outline below, along with a copy-ready template and a completed example, gives you something practical to work with.

What is a Nonprofit Fundraising Plan?

A nonprofit fundraising plan is a written document that explains how your organization intends to raise money over a set period, usually a year. It sets a target, identifies where the money should come from, and assigns responsibility for the work.

It's different from a fundraising strategy. Your strategy establishes the bigger picture, while the plan deals with the actions that need to happen now. For a small nonprofit, one or two pages may be plenty. What matters is whether the team can actually use the document.

A practical fundraising plan should cover six basics:

• Goal: How much money does the organization need to raise?
• Income streams: Where will that money come from?
• Calendar: When will each activity take place?
• Responsibilities: Who owns each task?
• Budget: What will the fundraising work cost?
• Measures: How will you know whether you're on track?

Keep the plan somewhere everyone involved can access it. If circumstances change, update it. There's little value in creating a detailed document that nobody looks at again.

Why Do Written Fundraising Plans Matter Right Now?

A written plan helps you make decisions before a funding gap becomes urgent. It gives your fundraising team a clearer picture of what's coming in, what's going out, and which fundraising activities deserve attention.

The Charities Aid Foundation's World Giving Report: Charity Insights 2026 found that only 37% of charity leaders felt financially and operationally prepared for success over the next three years. The same report found that demand had increased for 67% of charities in the previous year, while 47% were struggling to cope. Read the 2026 charity insights.

Those numbers help explain why planning matters. When more people need support, relying on occasional appeals can leave an organization exposed. A written nonprofit fundraising plan gives staff and trustees a shared set of priorities, even when the team is small.

It also makes conversations about money more productive. Instead of saying you require more donations, you can explain how much you require, which activities should generate it, and what resources those activities require.

For ideas on choosing the right approaches, explore our guide to fundraising strategies for nonprofits.

How to Write a Fundraising Plan​: The 7 Section Fundraising Plan Outline​

A useful fundraising plan outline doesn't need to be complicated. Seven sections are enough to connect your goals with the work required to achieve them.

1. Summary and purpose: Explain what your organization does and why the funding is needed.
2. Income goal and breakdown: Set your total target and divide it between income sources.
3. Donor segments: Identify the people, businesses, and institutions most likely to support your work.
4. Income streams and tactics: Choose fundraising activities and explain how you'll carry them out.
5. Calendar and owners: Give each activity a deadline and a named person responsible.
6. Budget and costs: Estimate campaign expenses, payment-processing fees, and staff or volunteer time.
7. Measures and review dates: Decide what you'll track and when you'll assess progress.

You can use this structure for a first-time plan or to improve an existing one. Don't feel obliged to include every fundraising method available. Choose activities your organization has the capacity to deliver, then build from there.

How Do You Set a Realistic Fundraising Goal (With a Fundraising Plan Example​)

Start with what you actually raised last year. Break that income down by source, look at what worked, and consider whether your team can realistically do more. Deciding a target simply because it fills a budget gap can leave you with an ambitious number and no clear way to reach it.

Here's a simple fundraising plan example:

Your organization raised €48,000 last year and wants to reach €60,000 this year. That's an extra €12,000. Rather than expecting every activity to perform better, assign the increase to a new online individual giving campaign, with a named owner and quarterly targets.

Check whether your audience, budget, and available time support that decision. If you raise money in another currency, adjust the figures to match your organization's circumstances.

Our guide to donor metrics to track can help you monitor average donation size, repeat giving, and fundraising costs.

Which Income Streams Should Your Plan Include?

Three income streams that you manage consistently can be more useful than seven that receive little attention. Choose the ones that fit your cause, existing supporter base, and available resources.

The World Giving Report 2026 found that people aged 25 to 44 donated an average of 1.2% of their income, compared with 0.6% among people over 55. This is a useful reminder to think about whom you're trying to reach rather than sending the same appeal to everyone.

Free Nonprofit Fundraising Plan Template

Need something you can fill in today? This fundraising plan template nonprofit teams can use is designed to be copied into a document or spreadsheet. Add your own details under each heading, keeping the answers specific and easy to review.

Nonprofit Fundraising Plan Template

1. Summary and purpose

• Organization and cause:
• Planning period:
• Main funding need:

2. Income goal and breakdown

• Total fundraising target:
• Target for each income stream:
• Expected income from existing donors:

3. Donor segments

• Priority audiences:
• Existing supporters to re-engage:
• New audiences to reach:

4. Income streams and tactics

• Planned activities:
• Expected results:
• Resources required:

5. Calendar and owners

• Activity and deadline:
• Person responsible:
• Key milestones:

6. Budget and costs

• Estimated campaign costs:
• Payment-processing fees:
• Staff and volunteer capacity:

7. Measures and review dates

• Income raised:
• Donation and repeat-donor numbers:
• Review dates and planned adjustments:

Once you've completed the template, transfer the activities and deadlines into a fundraising calendar. That makes it easier to spot busy periods, assign work, and keep tasks from slipping through the cracks.

Sample Fundraising Plan for a Small Nonprofit

A completed example can make the process easier to picture. Imagine a fictional organization called Bright Steps, which runs learning and mentoring sessions for disadvantaged young people. It has one part-time fundraiser and an annual fundraising target of €60,000.

The part-time fundraiser checks progress monthly, while trustees review the results every quarter. If recurring donations fall short, the team can adjust its outreach instead of waiting until December to discover the gap.

That's what makes a sample nonprofit fundraising plan useful. It connects the target to specific activities, people, and dates rather than leaving everything as a general intention. Bright Steps should also maintain a donor stewardship plan, so supporters receive timely thanks and updates.

Put Your Fundraising Plan to Work

A fundraising plan doesn't need to predict every challenge your organization might face. It needs to give you a clear target, assign responsibility, and help you spot problems before they become urgent.

Start with the income you already understand. Choose a manageable set of activities, give each one an owner, and set review dates. As you learn what works, adjust the plan rather than sticking to an approach that isn't delivering results.

Most importantly, use the document throughout the year. Even a simple plan can help a small nonprofit make better decisions about its time, budget, and donor relationships.

Ready to put your plan into action? Start your fundraiser with WhyDonate. There's a 0% platform fee, no sign-up fee, and no monthly cost. Only standard payment processor fees apply.

FAQs: How to Write a Fundraising Plan​

How long should a fundraising plan be?

For a small organization, one or two pages may be enough. The document should clearly identify your target, income sources, responsibilities, deadlines, and measures. Add more detail if your activities require it, but don't confuse length with usefulness.

What is the difference between a fundraising plan and a fundraising strategy?

A fundraising strategy sets the longer-term direction, including the audiences and income sources your organization wants to develop. The plan translates that direction into this year's targets, activities, budgets, and deadlines. Your strategy explains where you're going; your plan sets out what needs to happen next.

How often should you review a fundraising plan?

Review progress quarterly against the measures you chose at the start. Compare income with your targets, check campaign costs, and identify activities that aren't delivering the expected results. If circumstances change significantly, adjust the plan rather than waiting until the next annual cycle.

Are donations to my organization tax deductible?

It depends on the recipient organization's charity status and on the donor's own country. Rules vary and can change, so don't promise donors a tax benefit without checking the applicable requirements. Seek qualified local advice before making claims about deductibility.