You know that moment when your board announces, “We need to raise $50,000″… and everyone looks at you like you’re supposed to magic it into existence?
Yeah, me too.
It’s easy to panic. Especially if the board mistakenly thinks that you “just” need to find 50 people to give $1,000.
The Power of a Gift Range Calculator
Based on studies of successful campaigns, we’ve found they typically contain:
- One gift = 10-25% of your total goal
- One gift = 7.5-15% of your goal
- Two gifts = 5-10% of your goal each
- And so on down the pyramid
- 1 donor who can give $12,500
- 1 donor at $7,500
- 2 donors at $5,000
- Plus smaller gifts to complete the campaign
Suddenly that intimidating number becomes a more constructive conversation: “Who do we know that could give at these levels?”
You can do this yourself at https://GiftRangeCalculator.com/
Turn Panic Into Planning
Here’s why I love this approach:
- For you: It transforms “find money somewhere” into “who are the five people we can first talk to?”
- For your board: When someone says “Let’s raise a million dollars!”, you can respond with enthusiasm instead of despair. Pull out the calculator and ask: “Great! Who are the 5 people we know who could give $250,000?”
- For donors: When you show them the gift range chart, they feel relief. “Oh good—you’re not asking me to fund this entire thing.”
The Best Part?
If you follow the gift levels from the Gift Range Calculator and all gifts come through, you’ll raise more than your goal.
Because when people see a fundraising campaign is going to succeed, they want to be part of it. Late gifts pour in.
And is exceeding goal a problem? I don’t think so.
I taught this as part of my “Ask Without Fear!® – the Essentials” session last week. DonorSearch was kind enough to post it on YouTube.
The Ask Without Fear! Essentials video is on YouTube at:
https://youtu.be/CX8keuV4LEs?si=k1QbQ2BQIJknCd58
Goals aren’t just for fundraising. If you want help with your personal and professional goalsetting for all of 2026, join us for Magnetize 2026! Learn more and sign up at: https://concordleadershipgroup.com/magnetize-2026
