A campaign thermometer shows progress to goal — raised divided by goal, capped at 100% for the bar. One formula drives the percentage, and the remaining-to-go figure motivates the ask.
The example
$32,000 toward a $40,000 goal.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Value |
| 2 | Raised | 32000 |
| 3 | Goal | 40000 → 80% |
The formula
The formula:
How it works
How it works:
raised / goalis the raw progress — the thermometer percentage.- Wrap in
MIN(…, 1)so a bar or progress chart caps at 100% when you exceed goal. - Remaining to goal =
MAX(goal - raised, 0)— the number that drives the next ask. - Use it as a data-bar source or feed a chart for a visual thermometer.
Show over-goal separately. Capping at 100% keeps the bar tidy, but donors love seeing a stretch result. Display the uncapped percentage as text (“112% of goal!”) next to a capped bar, and track =MAX(raised - goal, 0) as the amount raised beyond target for stretch-goal messaging.
Try it: interactive demo
Raised and goal.
Variations
Remaining to goal
The ask:
Uncapped percent
Over-goal text:
Over-goal amount
Beyond target:
Pitfalls & errors
Cap the bar. Use MIN(...,1) so a progress bar doesn’t render past full.
Floor the remaining. MAX(goal-raised,0) keeps “to go” from going negative.
Goal of zero. A missing goal gives #DIV/0!.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate fundraising progress to goal in Excel?
How do I show going over goal?
Why cap the percentage?
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