A Fundraising Organization SWOT Analysis for 2014

A FundRaising Success article in January by F. Duke Haddad, "A Fundraising SWOT Analysis for 2014," recommended that fundraising professionals put together a SWOT analysis to determine areas of personal focus for the upcoming year. That got us thinking … A new year is also a good time for organizational resolutions. Year-end campaigns are completed, the tax receipts mailed and the thank-you letters sent. While the job of a fundraising professional never ends, it does seem like there's a bit of time now to:

• Evaluate what has worked, what hasn't and why.
• Set new goals, e.g., recruit new and retain prior participants, grow your brand, increase the amount raised for related causes, etc.
• Identify the tactics and tools needed to reach those goals.

As part of this exercise many successful organizations perform a SWOT analysis and organize their thoughts in four key areas: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

To help you do this, we've prepopulated an example analysis with a composite of elements we have gathered from talking with many fundraisers who, like you, are continually looking for ways to improve results. View it at right.

Haddad's counsel for a personal SWOT is just as applicable for an organizational SWOT: "As you enter 2014, prioritize areas where you can obtain immediate short- and long-term success. Strive to continue to learn from peers, seek best-of-class examples, stay focused and seek continuing education."

Use this to create your own SWOT analysis now; you'll be glad you did.

Miriam Kagan is senior fundraising consultant at Kimbia. Reach her on Twitter at @MiriamKagan