Setting Realistic Goals - Organizer Guide

Why Realistic Goals Matter

Setting realistic goals builds credibility with donors and increases your chances of success. Goals that are too high can discourage donors (“we'll never reach that”), while goals that are too low might not meet actual needs.

How to Set Goals

1. Assess Actual Needs
Count how many people/families you're helping and what they each need
2. Research Costs & Quantities
Find out realistic prices and typical donation sizes in your area
3. Consider Your Reach
How many potential donors can you realistically reach?
4. Factor in Distribution Capacity
Can you actually handle and distribute what you're asking for?
5. Set Specific, Measurable Targets
Use concrete numbers: “200 sacks of rice” not “lots of rice”

Types of Goals

Essential Goal

The minimum you need to make a meaningful impact. Start here.

Example: 100 sacks of rice to feed 100 families for 1 week

Target Goal

Your ideal amount that would fully meet needs

Example: 200 sacks to feed families for 2 weeks

Stretch Goal

Bonus target that would allow you to help even more people

Example: 300 sacks to also help neighboring barangays

Start Conservative

It's better to exceed a modest goal than to fall short of an ambitious one. You can always increase goals later based on response.

Breaking Down Big Goals

For large campaigns, break goals into smaller milestones:

Week 1 Goal: 50 sacks of rice (25% of total)

Week 2 Goal: 100 sacks total (50% of total)

Week 3 Goal: 150 sacks total (75% of total)

Final Goal: 200 sacks (100%)

Adjusting Goals

When to Increase Goals

✓ You're close to 75%+ of your target
✓ Donations are coming in faster than expected
✓ You discover additional needs you can address
✓ You have capacity to help more people

When to Decrease Goals

✓ Original assessment was too optimistic
✓ Situation has changed (fewer affected)
✓ Donation pace is much slower than expected
✓ Storage or distribution limitations discovered

Communicate Changes

If you adjust goals significantly, post a campaign update explaining why. Transparency maintains trust.

Best Practices

✓ Base goals on real data, not guesses
✓ Consider both immediate and medium-term needs
✓ Account for waste, spoilage, or unusable donations
✓ Set goals for each item type separately
✓ Update progress regularly to show momentum
✓ Celebrate milestones (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%)
✓ Close campaigns when goals are met or timing is right

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗ Setting goals based on what you wish rather than what's realistic
✗ Not researching actual costs or quantities
✗ Ignoring storage and distribution capacity
✗ Setting vague goals (“as much as possible”)
✗ Never updating goals despite changed circumstances
✗ Setting only one huge goal with no milestones

Next Steps

Learn how to effectively promote your campaign to reach your goals.

Promoting Your Campaign →