How to use the fundraiser goal tracker
- Enter your fundraising goal and the amount raised so far.
- Enter the days in the campaign and the days gone by.
- Read the headline for the amount needed per day over the days left, and check the pace so far and the projected total.
- Optionally enter an average gift in More options to count how many more gifts the goal needs.
Formula
still to raise = goal - raised
needed per day = still to raise / days left
projected total = raised / days gone by x days in the campaign
Days left is the campaign length minus the days gone by. The projection assumes the daily pace so far continues, and the number of gifts is rounded up.
$4,200 raised of $10,000 after 12 of 30 days
Still to raise is $10,000 - $4,200 = $5,800 over 30 - 12 = 18 days, which is $322.22 a day. The pace so far is $4,200 / 12 = $350 a day, so the projection is $350 x 30 = $10,500, which is $500 above the goal.
If progress is slower, with $3,000 raised after 12 days, the pace is $250 a day and the projection is $7,500, which is $2,500 below the goal and shows in parentheses. At an average gift of $75, the original $5,800 needs 5,800 / 75 = 77.3, so 78 more gifts.
Reading the pace
Compare the two daily figures. If the pace so far is higher than the amount needed per day, you are ahead. If it is lower, the gap tells you how much stronger the remaining days must be. Progress and the share of time used are shown side by side, so 42% raised at 40% of the time is a quick check.
Campaigns rarely raise money at an even pace. Many start with a burst from close supporters and finish with a push at the deadline, so the straight-line projection is a rough guide. Use it to decide whether to add an event or a reminder, not to promise a result.
Setting up the numbers
Count only money you have actually received, or decide in advance whether pledges count and keep to it. Fees taken from donations, matching gifts that arrive later and in-kind gifts are not modeled, so adjust the goal or the raised amount to reflect them. For personal savings targets, see the Savings Goal Calculator, and to organize your plan, the Goal Tracker Planner.
Assumptions and limits
- Days are whole days, and days gone by cannot be more than the days in the campaign.
- The projection assumes the average daily pace so far continues to the end.
- The goal must be above zero. Raised may be zero or more, and may exceed the goal.
- Money is rounded to the cent. Nothing is stored or uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to raise per day to reach my goal?
Subtract what you have raised from the goal and divide by the days left. With $5,800 still to raise and 18 days left, you need $322.22 a day. The calculator also compares that with the pace you have so far.
What does the projected total mean?
It is your daily pace so far multiplied by the full length of the campaign. If you raised $4,200 in 12 days, you raised $350 a day, so a 30 day campaign projects $10,500. It assumes the pace stays the same.
How many gifts do I still need?
Divide the amount still to raise by your average gift and round up. With $5,800 to go and an average gift of $75, that is 77.3, so 78 gifts. Enter your own average, since gift sizes vary a lot between campaigns.
What if I have already passed the goal?
The page says the goal is reached and shows how much you are beyond it. The needed-per-day figure no longer applies, so it shows Goal reached instead of a number.