Five keys to a bountiful harvest
- 1. Understanding and mastering the development landscape
- What is non-profit development
+ Defining your organization’s needs and knowing your role - How do you draft a development plan and why it is essential
+ Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals (Specific, Measurable, Aligned, Realistic, Timely) - How do you get the maximum ROI
+ Utilizing best practices in donor cultivation, research, time management and the back office
- 2. Maintaining and growing your donor base
- Why do donors give
+ Knowing and understanding the specific needs and desires of your donor base - How do your donors prefer to give
+ Developing campaigns, special events and giving menus tailored to your organization’s needs - What encourages sustained giving
+ Building relationships, cultivation and stewardship - How do you ask for donations
+ Learning and perfecting the art of the “ask”
- 3. Ensuring a strong, supportive environment
- How do you prepare leadership to support fundraising and development
+ Helping CEOs and Executive Directors communicate effectively with donors and prospects - How do you enable all staff to expand the giving network
+ Providing leadership, resources and information so that all staff can be “development emissaries” - How do you effectively utilize your Board of Directors
+ Board building, cultivation and accountability
- 4. Going to market
- Who are you
+ Understanding what “Brand” means and defining and using yours - How do you tell your story effectively
+ Narratives, taglines and quick pitches - What is your communications plan
+ Defining your organization’s needs and evaluating your current tools
- 5. Preparing the terrain for future yields
- What is the long-term vision for your organization
+ Understanding how growth goals affect development goals - How do you create a strategic development plan
+ Conducting honest assessments of needs, opportunities and limitations - How do you implement a strategic development plan
+ Building consensus and creating organizational buy-in - How can you tell if the strategy is working
+ Auditing your progress and using tools for on-going assessment