Where have you been? To go forward we usually look back first. We call this a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis. And, although many of us use this method when doing a strategic plan, it’s equally important in the development planning process. Your development...
Why are so many nonprofits addicted to special event fundraising? I’ve observed several reasons for this addiction. First, for many organizations they seem like the only way out of the fundraising dilemma. They either aren’t aware of the diversity of fundraising activities that could...
The Importance of the Case
Sometimes development professionals only think about the importance of having a case for support when they are preparing to launch a capital campaign. However, every organization needs a case for support for all of its fundraising activities. The case has been defined...
It has been said that good stewardship is the last step is the first gift and the first step in the next gift. Stewardship includes ensuring that the donor’s best interest are always the primary consideration, conforming to all applicable laws, making certain that all fundraising is done...
Gone are the days when people volunteered for or donated to the same old reliable charities because “It’s the thing to do,” or “My parents always supported this cause,” or “They have a great reputation.”
Today’s donors and volunteers are looking for...
Back in the dark ages, I used to talk about something I called “the ripping envelope syndrome” when I gave workshops and seminars about the role of the board. This “syndrome” was characterized by the chair of a nonprofit board opening the board meeting with the words,...
If you find that your organization has difficulty attracting a particular category of donors--individual major donors, foundations, organizations, or businesses--you might want to plan some special cultivation events and activities to help build relationships with these donors.
You will need to...
At some point in the career of every development professional there comes the time when some tough decisions must be made. Is it time to ask for a higher-level position within the organization? Do you “stick it out” in a position that has reached its potential, or is it time to...
Whether you are a small business, a major corporation, or a nonprofit organization, you need a strategic plan. Businesses, and sometimes nonprofits, may refer to this as a business plan, and the two concepts are very close. What makes the plan strategic is that you will identify strategies to...
Solicitation strategies are part of every stage of your development program. The most important word in your development plan is—diversify. You need to include all types of fundraising from a variety of constituencies in your plan.
In your plan you should include raising money from:
- ...
Establishing Trust
It can be tempting for staff to focus your initial conversations with a consultant around internal needs and expect immediate feedback. In most cases however, the mark of a solid consultant will be one who spends a good deal of time listening, asking good questions, then...
If you are thinking about establishing a development office for the first time (or perhaps need to reassess your expectations of the current development office), here are some helpful tips:
- First, determine that you need a development office and that your board has agreed that this is a...