Three Ways to Gauge Philanthropic Intent

A hearty pool of prospects is critical to the success of fundraising campaigns.While anecdotally you may think to yourself, "we have plenty of supporters," a gift chart can help demonstrate the actual number of donors or prospects that must exist before moving forward with a comprehensive fundraising initiative."A gift chart provides a reality check when determining if you have the 'strength' to launch the campaign," says Robin Cabral, CFRE, a fundraising consultant and coach with more than 30 years of experience in the philanthropy and fund development space."They are also useful for monitoring progress and to develop strategy -this is what all development professionals should be doing."This tool can also provide indications of a healthy or not-sohealthy fundraising program.It's important to recognize that these charts are only as useful as the data that shapes them.Below, Cabral shares advice for crafting a chart that helps fundraisers save time and effort by identifying and engaging top tier prospects: