{"id":141463,"date":"2025-10-07T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bloomerang.com\/?p=141463"},"modified":"2025-10-06T14:27:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T18:27:41","slug":"bigger-goals-bigger-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bloomerang.com\/blog\/bigger-goals-bigger-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"Bigger goals, bigger impact: why a scarcity mindset is holding you back"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I ask nonprofit leaders about their fundraising goals for the year, I often hear some version of: \u201cIf we can just match last year, we\u2019ll be okay.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

That mindset is not only limiting\u2014it\u2019s dangerous. Because if you set your sights at last year\u2019s bar, you\u2019re not building for the future. You\u2019re standing still. And in a sector where donor demographics, economic forces, and community needs are constantly shifting, standing still isn\u2019t an option.<\/p>\n

I know this may sound bold, especially in a time when many organizations are working harder than ever through staffing shortages, or recovering lost federal funding<\/a>. These challenges are real, and I don\u2019t minimize them. But they don\u2019t erase the fact that next-level impact and growth are possible\u2014and that aiming higher is often the very thing that helps nonprofits break through those headwinds.<\/p>\n

I believe every nonprofit deserves to set\u2014and achieve\u2014double-digit growth goals. Here\u2019s why.<\/p>\n

Generosity is abundant<\/h2>\n

Despite headlines about giving declines, the truth is that generosity remains strong\u2014and is growing. In 2024, charitable giving in the U.S. rose to $592.5 billion, a 6.3% increase<\/a> over the prior year. Certain sectors saw even greater momentum: public-society benefit organizations grew 19.5%, international affairs 17.7%, and education 13.2%. These aren\u2019t the signs of a shrinking pie\u2014they\u2019re proof that when people are engaged, generosity flows.<\/p>\n

And engagement matters. During COVID-19, our data showed that organizations that sent crisis-focused appeals raised 30% more than those that kept their communications the same or stayed silent. The takeaway isn\u2019t that urgency is the only path forward\u2014it\u2019s that donors respond when nonprofits meet the moment with relevance and authenticity. Generosity doesn\u2019t vanish; it shows up when we invite it with clarity and conviction.<\/p>\n

Scarcity is a mindset. Abundance is reality.<\/p>\n

Bigger goals create better strategies<\/h2>\n

At Bloomerang, we set ambitious growth goals. This year, we aimed for 30% growth. Some thought it was unrealistic. But instead of intimidating us, the goal changed how we worked. We couldn\u2019t just rely on what we did last year; we had<\/i> to think differently. And today, we\u2019re pacing ahead of that goal\u2014because growth pushed us to be more creative, focused, and disciplined.<\/p>\n

The same applies to nonprofits. If you set a 15% or 30% growth goal, you won\u2019t get there by sending the same appeal to the same donors. You\u2019ll start asking new questions:<\/p>\n