Annual Fund Development
GivingPoint will conduct a complete development audit in order to identify strengths and areas targeted for improvement from your existing development program.
The audit observes and analyzes hard data, internal records and relies on personal interviews with executive staff, volunteers, donors, and prospective donors in order to assess comprehensively how the organization is implementing its current development plan, programs and services as well as the communication and public relations function so critical to a successful development program.
The audit will define and recommend precise action to better link day-to-day activities with your overall fundraising goals that are within the means of your organization. Once soft spots have been identified, it will then be necessary to develop a Development Immersion Process or “DIP” in order to introduce intervention strategies to improve planning, monitoring, and execution of a more effective development program. The DIP will include both strategic and tactical benchmarks for ease of implementation and monitoring success.
Audit Deliverables:
- The organization will receive a 15-30 page report with findings and recommended actions for improvement to grow and strengthen donor support and overall development efforts.
- Through the process the staff and board will be engaged, creating better awareness of how their talents can strengthen the organization.
- The audit also reflects and rpovides public opinion while assessing strengths, weakness, and concerns.
1. Request Documents & Information
- Fundraising Costs
- History & Corporate Docs.
- Endowment and Reserves
- Board Roles & Leadership
- Fundraising Volunteers
- Development Structure & Staffing
- Fundraising Vehicles: Direct Mail, Telephone, Online, Events, Etc.
- Major Gifts
- Planned Giving
- Corporate Appeals
- Prospect Research
- Stewardship
- Database Systems & Records
- Procedures Manual & Gift Policies
- Budgeting
** GivingPoint will provide a checklist for the organization which identifies pertinent information that should be provided in order to explain current operations.
** These documents, as well as staff discussions, are then reviewed and evaluated based on fundraising performance indicators and best practices and put into the final report.
** Key Deliverables: Review, organization and assessment of all procedures.
2. Conduct Interviews
- Identify Project Stakeholders
- Individuals & Businesses
- Government (City, State & Federal)
- Faith
- Community Leaders
- Volunteers
- Service Recipients
- Develop Questionnaire (asks key questions, gets key answers).
- Conduct 10-20 face-to-face and telephone interviews with individuals identified.
** This step employs outside counsel (GivingPoint) to engage community, staff and board members, prospective donors and current donors in candid conversations about the organization. GivingPoint will request from your organization donor lists and work with the executive director and key board members to select additional interviewees.
** Key Deliverable: The organization receives realistic, unbiased feedback to – among other things – fundraising practices, service provision, reasons people are, or are not, engaged as donors and volunteers.
3. Review and Analyze Data
4. Final Report
- Executive Summary
- Compilation of All Audit Documents
- Interview Summary
- Selected Comments
- Search Engine Rankings
- Findings & Recommendations
** GivingPoint will provide a comprehensive document that encompasses a review of all current operations with an evaluation of processes. Its findings and recommendations will be presented to the board in person.
DIP Goals: By using the information and recommendations that were discovered in the development audit, the DIP helps the organization fully implement key segments of a fundraising program. There are six (6) broad categories in which GivingPoint can help. Based on factors such as time, budget, and need, one or all of these ares can be chosen for development. GivingPoint can also create budget efficiencies by working on projects simultaneously.
Phase II – Development Immersion Process “DIP” for Key Fundraising Segments
1. Develop Case for Support
- Mission
- Purpose & Values Statements
- Development Phases (if any)
- Funding Goals
- Proof of Non-duplicity
- Who, What, When, Where Questions
- Why is this important? Three Dimensional Questions
** Concepts are developed through a board exercise facilitated by GivingPoint. Results are then articulated and designed by GivingPoint to provide the organization with the best language to convey the case for support.
** Key Deliverables: Providing the organization with a concise and compelling document to use when communicating the project and soliciting donors.
2. Annual Giving Program
- Calendar
- Budge
- Mailings
- Benchmarking
- LYBUNT, SYBUNT, Non-donors
- Phone Programs
- Social Networking
** Based on past program performance, GivingPoint will establish benchmarks for growth; work with staff to develop target message; set mail dates, recipients, and follow-up strategies; and facilitate other key components of a program.
3. Major Gifts
- Case Statement
- Importance and Elements of the Case Statement
- Branding and Positioning
- What is a Major Gift?
- Create a Long-term Vision for Your Major Gift Program
- Setting Revenue Goals and Evaluating Your Program
- Effective Leadership
- Role of the Chief Development Officer
- Role of the Institution’s CEO
- Volunteer Leadership Roles and Responsibilities
- Donor Cultivation System/Moves Management
- Research Your Potential
- Prospect Qualification
- Managing Prospects
- Solicitation Techniques/Training
- Getting the Appointment
- Making the Ask
- Closing the Gift
- Stewardship
- Donor Recognition
- Renewal and Upgrading
- Personalized Stewardship
** An effective development program is diversified with both individual, corporate and foundation gifts. But, the key to long-term sustainability is support from individual donors.
** If an audit has been completed, now it’s time to put in place an action place to identify, cultivate, solicit, and thank donors. This includes strategies for infrastructure and donor relationships.
** Key Deliverables: Providing the organization all of the tools necessary to build and maintain relationships which produces significant gifts.
4. Planned Giving
- Are you Ready?
- Board Buy-In
- Mission & Case
- Strategic Plan
- Staff & Board Education & Training
- Terminology
- Each Phase of Gift Planning
- Communication
- Program Development
- Goal Setting
- Prospect Management
- Budget
- Administrative Policies & Procedures
- Gift Tracking
- Gift Acceptance Policy
- Forms
- Staff Responsibility
- Organization Accountability
- Facilitation Support & Council
**A gift planning program should be considered as a part of your overall fundraising strategy. In order to get starte, you must review organization readiness, gift options, marking plans and how to identify and work with gift planning prospects.
** Key Deliverables: Providing the organization with a structure to start, develop and implement a sound gift planning program.
5. Grant Training
- Research, Identification of Sources & Needs
- Review & Editing
- Submission
- On-site Training
** Our professional grant proposal research and writing services include planning for the grant, developing the narrative and budget, researching multiple grant sources, through submission of a proposal.
6. Staff & Board Coaching
- Board Evaluation & Goal Setting
- Setting Staff Goals
- Implementation of Reporting and Systems
- Making Donor Calls & Visits
- Intro to Gift Planning
- OTHER –
**GivingPoint will conduct sessions with your board and development staff to either fine tune your skills or address topics that are new. Each session provides team building, industry techniques, educations, and hands-on-learning.
