Eight-Step Charity Business Plan Writing

Lisa McQuerrey reports:

"Writing a business plan for a charity is similar to writing a business plan for a for-profit organization. Key elements include identifying competition, developing a marketing strategy and forecasting income. The main difference is that while a for-profit business relies on sales projections to form the basis of a comprehensive business plan, a charity must evaluate its current and future funding sources, which typically come from donors, fundraisers and grants...Collect financial and operating data, if available. If the charity is already in operation, this material should include profit and loss statements, detailed operating expense reports and a spreadsheet that indicates income sources, amounts and [timelines] for funding. If the charity has not yet been launched, compile materials related to any secured funding sources and operational funding projections, including anticipated startup, overhead and operating costs...Write a one-page executive summary that outlines the intended goals for the charity in one-, three- and five-year increments. The summary should provide an overview of program and fundraising goals. If the charity has an advisory board or board of directors responsible for guiding the organization, their input should be considered as the executive summary is written...Describe current and planned marketing activities. This may include community outreach initiatives, public awareness campaigns or specific use of contributions to be used for marketing. Include in-kind marketing provided by donors and charity supporters. The description should include anticipated costs for marketing and anticipated outcomes...Describe your competition and how their activities have the potential to impact your operating plans...Detail your current and anticipated operating procedures, including details about staffing. This should include creating an organizational chart that includes details about positions, responsibilities and salaries. Include time donated by charity volunteers...Develop a budget. Include startup costs, if necessary, the cost for supplies, equipment, securing a facility, if applicable, and monthly operating costs. If the charity is already operational, use established accounting records to complete this section of the business plan...Evaluate revenue streams. Use information gathered as part of steps one and six as reference if necessary. For a charity organization, this is a vital component of business plan development. Established charities can use income statements from previous years of operation as a benchmark for developing a cash flowchart...New charities should use pledged gifts and anticipated revenue from fundraising and grant writing activities...Assess your compiled business plan materials to look for areas that don’t support one another and adjust accordingly. For example, if you have less anticipated revenue than necessary to meet operating expenses, adjust either your operating budget or your fundraising budget to bring your plan into line."