What Does a Healthy Fundraising Portfolio Look Like?

A resilient fundraising strategy isn’t built on one revenue stream. It’s built like a diversified investment portfolio — with multiple channels working in concert to support long-term stability, adaptability, and growth.

If one source slows down or disappears, others keep you moving forward. That’s the power of a strong portfolio mix.

Here’s what that looks like in practice — and how to grow each piece.

💎 Major Gifts (30–50%)

Why it matters: Major gifts from high-net-worth individuals are the cornerstone of philanthropic growth. They bring scale, flexibility, and often fund bold, transformational initiatives. These gifts typically have the highest return on investment and the deepest donor engagement.

How it contributes to diversity: Major gifts provide a stabilizing force for long-term planning and help unlock momentum for new projects.

Growth tactic: Build a dedicated moves management system focused on personalized cultivation, not just transactions. Create donor journeys that speak to values, not just naming rights.

🏛️ Foundations (15–25%)

Why it matters: Foundation grants fuel innovation, pilot programs, and special initiatives. They offer credibility and signal to other funders that your work is worth supporting.

How it contributes to diversity: Foundations help offset risk by funding specific programs or populations that may not attract broad-based support.

Growth tactic: Develop a grant calendar that includes reapplication timelines, new opportunities, and reporting cycles. Strengthen relationships with program officers, not just portals.

🤝 Corporate Giving (10–20%)

Why it matters: Corporate partnerships bring more than funding. They deliver visibility, community engagement, and often in-kind or volunteer support that multiplies impact.

How it contributes to diversity: Corporate gifts expand reach and provide access to new networks and audiences. They also tend to be more flexible than government or foundation dollars.

Growth tactic: Frame your work in terms of shared values and outcomes, not just logo placement. Position your nonprofit as a strategic partner in their community or ESG goals.

💳 Annual Giving (10–15%)

Why it matters: Annual giving sustains core operations and builds a pipeline of future major donors. It’s often the most flexible and immediate funding a nonprofit can receive.

How it contributes to diversity: A strong base of small and mid-level donors demonstrates broad community support, which can attract institutional funders.

Growth tactic: Create a segmented, year-round campaign strategy that includes recurring giving, digital appeals, and storytelling tailored to donor interests.

🧭 Planned Giving (10–15%)

Why it matters: Planned gifts — from bequests to charitable trusts — can result in some of the largest contributions your organization will ever receive.

How it contributes to diversity: They provide a long-term financial safety net and demonstrate deep donor loyalty. Even when not realized immediately, they indicate strong engagement.

Growth tactic: Make legacy giving part of everyday stewardship. Add a simple checkbox or prompt to your donor communications that invites supporters to include you in their estate plans.

🎟️ Events (5–10%)

Why it matters: Events bring people together, generate excitement, and offer a platform to tell your story. They can be powerful cultivation tools when done strategically.

How it contributes to diversity: While not always a major revenue generator, events diversify your engagement methods and serve as on-ramps for new donors.

Growth tactic: Shift focus from volume to depth. Use events to identify and steward high-capacity attendees. Follow up with personalized outreach and clear next steps.

🧩 Bringing It All Together

No single segment should carry your fundraising strategy on its own. When each piece of your portfolio serves a unique purpose — and is actively nurtured — you create a system that is adaptable, scalable, and built to last.

At Lion’s Share Strategies, we help organizations rebalance, rebuild, and reignite their portfolios — so they’re not just surviving, but thriving.

Because your mission deserves more than a lifeline. It deserves a launchpad.