7 templates to help close funding gaps and strengthen your fundraising strategy

If you’ve worked in the nonprofit world for any length of time, you know that funding gaps aren’t rare, they’re part of the territory. Especially when the economy wobbles, even the most dedicated teams can find themselves fall short of their fundraising goals.  In fact, 75% of nonprofits report that financial instability is already impacting their ability to meet fundraising goals. But challenges don’t mean defeat—they're a call to get strategic, creative, and focused on what works.

To support nonprofits navigating these uncertain times, BetterWorld has created a powerful collection of seven ready-to-use templates to help close short-term funding gaps and build long-term sustainability. From strategic planning to social media outreach, these tools are designed to save time, boost effectiveness, and help you take action right away.

1. Basic Strategic Planning Template

A solid fundraising strategy begins with a clear direction. This template walks you through crafting an executive summary, performing a SWOT or SOAR analysis, and refining your marketing and communication efforts. With 86% of nonprofits citing positive revenue results from having a strategic plan, this tool is key to aligning your team and gaining funder confidence.

2. Business Plan Template for Nonprofits

Whether you’re seeking a grant or updating your board, a well-crafted business plan builds trust and credibility. This template helps you articulate your core values, vision, and goals, along with your branding and development plans, making it easier to tell your story and show how you’ll sustain your mission.

3. Social Media Strategy Template

Since 32% of online donors cite social media as their primary inspiration for giving, this template helps you connect more meaningfully. It guides you in setting goals, identifying your audience, creating platform-specific content, and building a flexible plan with built-in crisis communication protocols.

4. Donation Request Template

Making the ask is often the hardest part, but this template helps you do it with clarity and heart. Whether you're emailing a major donor or making a broad appeal to your community, these formats help you highlight the impact, urgency, and importance of each gift in print, email, or PDF.

5. Donor Acknowledgement Letter Template

Gratitude builds relationships. This thank-you letter template does more than say “thanks”—it reinforces donor impact and serves as a compliant tax receipt. Timely, meaningful acknowledgments can significantly increase the likelihood of repeat giving.

6. Event Invitation Templates

Your event invitation sets the tone. These customizable templates help you invite supporters in a welcoming, informative, and mission-aligned way—whether it’s a gala, fundraiser, or virtual gathering. They’re built to encourage attendance and even engagement from those who can’t attend.

7. Strategic Fundraising Guide for Year-Round Success

Sustainability is built on consistency. This guide helps you map out a balanced fundraising calendar, including grant schedules, seasonal campaigns, and recurring donations. It also includes best practices for grant applications and reporting, so you can build long-term donor relationships and funding resilience.

Keep Moving Forward

Closing a funding gap doesn’t require reinventing the wheel. These templates offer practical, proven ways to take action, while BetterWorld’s suite of 10 fundraising tools (from donation forms to raffles) helps save you time and boost campaign results by up to 30%. Setup takes just five minutes.

Get started for free today and give your nonprofit the tools to thrive, no matter the season.