Campaign Planning When the Future Is Fuzzy

"What's our plan if we only raise nine?"A campaign chair asked that in a planning meeting for a $14 million campaign, and the room went completely quiet.She wasn't being negative. She'd run a manufacturing business for thirty years, and she said, "I've never run a three-year plan that came in exactly where the model said it would."So we built an answer. Three of them, honestly. Conservative, moderate, and optimistic, all built around one internal working goal.Eighteen months later, the $4 million lead gift came in at $1.8 million.In most campaigns, that's an emergency board meeting. In this one, it was a Tuesday, because everyone already knew what to do.They finished at $11.4 million, and the board called it a success.In this episode, I walk through what a working goal really is, the three scenarios you build around it, how to write triggers you can see coming, and the five sentences that keep a board steady when the number moves.Give it a listen, then share it with someone on your team who's been waiting for a better moment to launch.More from Tammy ZonkerAuthor of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater ImpactFounder of Fundraising TransformedPresident of Modern Institute for Charitable GivingBook Tammy to Keynote Your Next EventReserve your spot at the upcoming Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising SeminarSubscribe to the Scaling Major Gifts newsletterConnect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedInResources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode.Review my show: Please review my show. After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way.Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies