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  • 1.  Budgeting post-campaign

    Posted 08-28-2025 07:37 AM

    Hi all - I've been asked to create projections for the years after a comprehensive campaign is completed. I know that campaigns in general increase overall fundraising revenue in the post-campaign years. I'm leaning towards using a conservative 2-5% increase over the campaign years, but need some data to back this up.  Are there any articles or resources that you have used?

    Thank you, 

    Beth



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    Beth Friedmann
    AJWS
    bfriedmann@ajws.org
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  • 2.  RE: Budgeting post-campaign

    Posted 08-28-2025 07:54 AM
    I don't think you can credit a campaign for continued increases post-campaign.

    Depending on the nature of your campaign, it is not unreasonable to see a near doubling of your annual fundraising performance by the end of the campaign. However, it is not unusual to observe a slight drop-off (as much as 20%) after the campaign due to donor fatigue. Further, after a campaign, some organizations will reduce fundraising staff through attrition to reset the expense budget.

    Once those campaign pledges are paid off, you should stabilize. However, annual fundraising growth after that is much more likely to be attributed to economic influences. If I were you, I'd use the most recent few Giving USA annual reports to estimate the most likely growth pattern for any nonprofit.

    John

    John H. Taylor, Principal
    John H. Taylor Consulting, LLC
    2604 Sevier Street
    Durham, NC     27705

    919.816.5903 (cell/text)

    Serving the Advancement Community Since 1987




    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Budgeting post-campaign

    Posted 08-28-2025 09:40 AM

    Thanks John – I'm not wanting to credit the campaign for post-campaign gifts.  I need to create a revenue budget for the post-campaign years. I'll take a look at the Giving USA annual reports.

     

     




    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Budgeting post-campaign

    Posted 08-28-2025 10:21 AM
    I gathered as much! My main point was to suggest that a successful campaign can nearly double your fundraising productivity during that campaign. Afterwards, your growth will be tied more to the economy (and new annual giving approaches) than to the aftereffects of the campaign.

    John H. Taylor, Principal
    John H. Taylor Consulting, LLC
    2604 Sevier Street
    Durham, NC     27705

    919.816.5903 (cell/text)

    Serving the Advancement Community Since 1987





    Original Message


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