Does fundraising feel like an uphill battle for your charity? If so, there’s a high likelihood you need to identify your Transformational Vision. Learn how your vision will help you reach donors who want to change the world with you.

Philanthropists want to change the world, not make small, incremental changes that have little impact. To connect with the donors whose values and goals align with your charity’s mission, you need a big vision. At Hussey Philanthropic Consulting, we call it a “Transformational Vision.”

Here’s the truth of the matter: big visions get big gifts. The larger and more impactful your vision – and fundraising plan - is, the easier it will be to fundraise. That’s why we have included Transformational Vision as the number one key in our 7-phase signature method for a Transformational Fundraising Campaign. Our suggested campaign plan is the fastest and most effective way to reach your nonprofit fundraising goal. But it all begins with identifying and communicating your transformational vision.

Where Do You Want to Go?

Far too many charitable organizations sell themselves short when it comes to their fundraising goal. Their fundraising campaign plan only leads to small gifts, which means they can only create incremental change. That type of capital campaign plan is a disservice to the work they are trying to accomplish. In fact, incremental change – thanks to a poor strategic fundraising plan - can be one of the biggest roadblocks to successful fundraising. Donors don’t want to make a small, mediocre impact. They want to make a big difference in the world.

You can develop your Transformational Vision when you ask yourself some important questions:

• Where do you actually want your nonprofit organization to go?
• What will it look like when you get there?
• What’s the impact going to be on the people you serve and the community?

If you can answer those questions, you have a great start to achieving a successful fundraising campaign and raising the money you need to accomplish these goals.

Someone Woke Up Today with All the Money You Need

You shouldn't have to sell the idea of philanthropy. Donors give because they have the resources to do so and giving is part of their value system. You don't need to twist their arms or convince them to give. You just need to know your big vision and communicate it to the right prospective donor.

There are people who woke up today with all the resources necessary to achieve your nonprofit organization's fundraising goals. The problem? They don't know you, or they've never heard your nonprofit organization’s story. These donors aren't going to come to you with a donation. So, you must reach them where they are with your vision and story.

Transformational vision is at the foundation of a solid fundraising campaign. Without it, you will not have a story or be able to create those essential emotional connections with a prospective donor. If you don't know where you are going as an organization, your story will be incremental and fall flat. For large-scale fundraising activity, the vision must be compelling and transformational. It's the only way to get where you want to go as an organization.

Donors want to connect with causes that align with their personal value systems or life experiences. Because of this, a potential donor needs to know and buy into your well-defined vision. And you must be able to explain it in a concise and impactful way. For many charities, it’s hard to make that jump when the focus has been on incremental fundraising and change. It takes time away from the day-to-day tasks of the organization to define and develop the vision.

 Frame the Vision in a Way Donors Understand

In many cases, charitable organization leaders struggle to get out of the way long enough to develop a vision. You and your team are living and breathing the cause every single day. It’s near and dear to your hearts, but can you communicate why to others? Doing this requires removing the jargon and giving people the core pieces of information that help them comprehend what you do.

You can’t assume any potential major donor understands what you do or the problem you address. They may not understand the needs of your target audience, the challenges they face, or the urgency of the situation. This is what you must communicate to any prospective new donors with clarity.

Define Your Vision, Don’t Water it Down

It's tragic when charities water down their visions because they think they could never get the funds to bring them to life. Let's not water down your vision based on what you think you could or couldn't do. Let's go for it! With the right strategic plan, you can develop the transformational vision to help you achieve your biggest fundraising goals.

At Hussey Philanthropic Consulting, we understand a transformational vision can feel insurmountable for many organizations. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Our team is here to empower you with a clear strategy and support, so you can get out there and change the world.