Develop an action plan
In Part One of our Nonprofit Planning Series, we discussed some unique ways to brainstorm as organizations begin fundraising efforts for the new fiscal year.  Armed with a fresh set of ideas, the next step is to develop an action plan.  One of the keys to success will be creating this blueprint from which you can work throughout the year, adapting as needed.

Create a timeline
Think of this as a list of your initiatives, mapped out over the next 12 months.  Start by noting annual events and dates on y our organization’s timeline:

  • Seasonal fundraisers
  • Annual appeal letter
  • Grant application and reporting deadlines
  • Volunteer appreciation events
  • Newsletter

With these important markers in place, identify when to best incorporate your new ideas this year.

Organize communications
Once your timeline is set, determine how you will communicate these initiatives to your audience of supporters by creating a communications plan.  I recommend developing a weekly schedule and sharing it with your colleagues to ensure consistent engagement with your audience.

As organizations communicate across multiple channels – email, newsletters, website, social media, blogs – it can seem daunting to organize all of your messages.  Take advantage of resources and technology (some free, some paid) that will help your organization coordinate messages.

  • Google calendar – Use color coding to differentiate message types (ex. Green for website, blue for email, red for social media), or to note any related important events.  When collaborating with others on communications, share calendars to keep everyone on task.  
  • Social media management – As nonprofits increase their presence on multiple social media outlets, publishing content to keep audiences engaged and informed is a critical component of your communication planning.  Thankfully there’s an abundance of tools to help, many of which offer free 30-day trials and discounts for nonprofits:
  • Excel – This may seem old school, but it works. Download a sample communication plan here.  This is a sample communication plan for fictional nonprofit Main Street Community Organization.

CaringCent Communication Plan

Up next: Identifying your stakeholders. Click here to read the third and final article in our three-part series.