Fundraising and Development

When is “development” not fundraising? Believe it or not, determining the difference between the terms is an essential first step. Starting with the “purpose” for the revenue is a useful exercise for Board members and staff in reaching clarity on your specific organizational needs.

So the questions are: What are the purposes for which revenue needs to be increased? What does the organization “mean” by its use of the term development? Which kind(s) of development activity best suits the purpose(s) for which the revenues are to be used? (See Articles section for “Fundraising, Development and Your Financial Model.”)

Then, there are the more difficult questions: At which of these activities are you likely to succeed and why is your success likely? That’s the point at which a seasoned consulting team can help.

Typically, our clients request:

A development audit—an analysis of an organization’s fundraising capacity based on its mission, history, experience, and competition
Feasibility studies for foundation and corporate program grants, individual gifts, and capital campaigns
Development Program Contract Management—on site transition or program management
Campaign counsel
   Executive and solicitor coaching
   Timetable management
   Development of templates for campaigns

“… the campaign’s success resulted from their (Consultants on Purpose) professional understanding of what would work and what wouldn’t , when to shout and when to back off.”

Janey Briggs Hart
At the completion of a mini-campaign, 1997

“Worth every penny!!”

Diana Chambers
President
Friends of Health, 1999

“We are grateful for your commitment and dedication to Samaritan Inns. The Development Team already misses your regular weekly presence! We look forward to keeping in touch.”

Jason Bernhardt-Lanier
Director of Development
Samaritan Inns, June 2003

Strategic Planning

Consultants on Purpose believes that nonprofit organizations should take a comprehensive approach to long-range programmatic and fundraising planning. That approach encompasses clear vision and mission statements and establishes (1) measurable goals for what the organization seeks to accomplish over the next three to five years; (2) measurable objectives needed to attain goals; (3) annual tasks designed to attain objectives; (4) costs of carrying out annual tasks, (5) a plan to secure the resources to meet the costs, and (6) a staffing/management plan to carry out the tasks. We strongly recommend that clients take a comprehensive approach when considering any element(s) of a long-range plan.

Our Team Approach. The principals of Consultants on Purpose bring a range of experiences and skills in each of the components of a long-range plan. We work as a team, with the participation of each principal as appropriate. A Consultants on Purpose contract stipulates the lead principal and an agreed-upon fee that assumes the participation of the team, as may be appropriate.

Building the Project Team. To be successful, a nonprofit's Board of Directors and senior management must own the organization's long-range plan and development strategy. That is, the plans must be the result of the active participation of Board members (or a committee of Board members) and management in the planning process. A planning process is a team project in which Consultants on Purpose facilitates the process and offers ideas and suggestions; the organization's planning body develops options and makes concrete recommendations, and the Board reviews, debates and adopts the plan.

“I can honestly say that we owe a good deal of where we are today to you and Barbara. We’re slowly emerging from the ‘mom and pop’ concept to a real organization—obviously due to you.”

George Igel
Board President
Center for Social and Emotional Education, August, 2002

“Consultants on Purpose helped us to step back and look at our public image from the perspective of our many stakeholders. They led us through the process of preparing a strategic plan for our community relations program. With their guidance, we were able to set realistic expectations and develop an action plan that was achievable. They were enormously supportive and professional, and a pleasure to work with.”

Catherine Bucknam
Director of Community Relations
AHC Inc., November 2005

“Consultants on Purpose have been the consultants to the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) in the preparation of their last two five-year Strategic Plans, 2000 and 2005. I have participated in a number of Strategic Planning Committees, none have been as effective as the two APAH Committees that Consultants on Purpose assisted. Their direction and insight, while always being respectful of the committee, was invaluable and in both cases produced documents which were challenging, in the best sense of the word, to the Board and staff of APAH.”

Thomas C. Parker
President
Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH), 2005

“...Like I said before, very impressive summations... This will help us tremendously. Thanks.”

Barbara Farrington-Wesley
Vice President of Operations
YMCA of Metro Washington, 2005