Talisman Thinking Out Loud

Learning from my Fundraising Colleagues

September 14, 2010 at 9:23 am Barbara Talisman, CFRE 2 comments

Thanks to Indiana Youth Institute, I had the great opportunity to facilitate workshops on creating a development plan for the new economy. Focus was the word of the day. Working with the human and financial resources we have, everyone needs to develop a plan they can implement with FOCUS! I traveled throughout Indiana and met great nonprofit leaders. Believe me, I learned as much as I shared.

Part of bringing nonprofit professionals together for learning includes the networking. Everyone shared many of the same challenges and found solutions:

• If Board members are not committed to fundraising, an organization can’t raise the funds necessary to make their mission reality.
  • Use term limits and assessments to off board those who are not supporting the organization. Focus on the right Board members (look at your donor lists), set expectations and empower them to succeed.
• Major gifts need to be a part of any development plan….but aren’t always.
  • Set goals, determine who are your best major gift prospects from your donorbase, engage others and focus time and resources to fill the gap in the pyramid between annual fund donors and large foundation grants.
• Events raising less than $25,000 net aren’t worth having.
  • Time can be better spent focusing on cultivating and soliciting major gifts.
• Donor communication, cultivation, social media is a lot to organize.
  • Make an integrated communication plan, track all initiatives, measure everything and focus on what you can do consistently and well.
• Corporate sponsorship is tough in this economy.
  • Create partnerships that include employee engagement, program support and event partnership. Focus and plan ahead, 12-18 months, to secure successful partnerships.

For a limited time, you can access the hand-outs from the workshops here.

Entry filed under: Board Development, Fundraising, Nonprofit fundraising, Resources You Can Use!. Tags: creating a development plan, development plans, Fundraising, Nonprofit fundraising.