The confetti have flown, and we’ve officially rang in the 2024 New Year! The start of a new year is often a thrilling time full of hope, wonder, and setting intentions for the twelve months that lie ahead. With the excitement of a new chapter, it is easy to compile a list of goals, but the hardest part is staying on track. Some common New Year’s resolutions include eating healthier, saving money, or spending more time with the people you love. Regardless of what your goals are for 2024, the best way to stay on track is to have a plan… a S.M.A.R.T. plan!
S.M.A.R.T. goal setting stands for:
Specific: What outcome would you like?
Measurable: How will you know when you’ve reached it?
Achievable: On a scale from 1–10, how confident are you that you will achieve it?
Relevant: How meaningful is this goal to you, on a scale from 1–10?
Time-Bound: When do you intend to reach your chosen endpoint?
Though the 2024 Susan G Komen 3-Day may feel far away, it’s important to begin your goalsetting sooner rather than later to ensure a smooth process free from any stress when the event approaches. We’ve gone ahead and prepared a step-by-step plan for achieving your 3-Day fundraising goals this year, the S.M.A.R.T. way.
Specific
Step one in your fundraising journey is to determine your goals and lay out your plan. Do you aim to go beyond the fundraising minimum? Do you want to earn the flight reward? Are you shooting to be a top fundraiser? Is there a specific number that has personal meaning for you? Whatever your goal is, it’s crucial to be specific about your desired outcome. Your goal should be clearly articulated so that you have a detailed vision of where you intend to land.
Example: I’m raising $5,000 for the San Diego 3-Day on November 15, 2024.
Measurable
To reach the destination, you need to have a quantifiable objective so that you can track your progress. In this case, you should determine the exact number that you intend to fundraise in terms of the dollar amount. Break it down a little bit further and determine how often you’ll be hosting fundraisers and your goal for each event.
Example: I will raise $5,000 and host at least one fundraiser a month until the event. I will also send five emails each month and post on social media once a week.
Achievable
When goalsetting at any capacity, it’s important to choose something challenging yet achievable. Setting lofty goals is good, but you may want to break them down into smaller, bite-sized chunks to seem less daunting. Think about how long until the event and calculate how much money you’ll need to raise each week or month, and the actions you’ll take to get there.
Example: Raising $5,000 seems like a lot, but I have ten months to raise the funds, so I will raise $500 each month. I love baking cookies so I will host bake sales at local events which I will advertise on social media.
Relevant
As you fundraise, it’s important to understand why you want to raise this exact dollar amount. There are many reasons as to why you may want to raise a certain amount, including achieving your fundraising minimum, becoming a top fundraiser, and of course providing funds for research or treatment initiatives. In 2023, survivor Emily W. walked all 3-Day events in all five cities and had a goal of raising $5,000 for each walk. She chose this dollar amount because that is how much it costs to treat two patients for a week and shared this with her potential donors. Knowing why she had her eye set on a specific goal helped her achieve it!
Example: This cause is very close to my heart because I am a breast cancer survivor and I want to help provide treatment for others who may otherwise not be able to afford it.
Time-Bound
It’s crucial to set a timeline both for the fundraising journey and when you intend to reach your goals. Creating a timeline helps keep you on track to accomplishing exactly what you set out to achieve.
Example: I will achieve this goal by November 15, 2024, for the San Diego 3-Day.
After gathering all of this information for yourself, you can then write down your concise S.M.A.R.T. goal.
Example: I will raise $5,000 by November 15, 2024 for the San Diego 3-Day because this is the amount it costs to treat two patients for a week. In the ten months leading up, I will raise $500/month by hosting one bake sale each month at various events which I will promote by word of mouth, on social media, and with local businesses.
To set your own S.M.A.R.T. fundraising goals, view this worksheet here.