Creating Your Fundraising Strategy (CCDEA)

Without a clear guide for diversified fundraising activities it is difficult to follow a path for success and convey needed fundraising efforts throughout your organization. Understanding various funding opportunities, the pros and cons of funding sources, and developing a plan will help to direct your efforts. Join in on a hands-on conversation about funding opportunities, best practices, and how these options fit within organizational sustainability.

1. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
CREATING A FUNDRAISING
STRATEGY
Emily Davis, MNM
Emily Davis Consulting
May 6, 2014
#fundraising

2. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
GETTING STARTED
• Why plan?
• Who gets involved?
• What are the activities?
• Why is assessment
important?
• What inventory do we
need?
• How will we know success?
#fundraising

3. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
WHY PLAN?
• Clear road map
• Lay foundation
• Share & increase investment
• Analyze capacity & leadership
• Research opportunities
• Set goals for measurement
• Increase revenue from diverse
resources
• Increase return on investment (ROI)
#fundraising

4. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
WHO GETS INVOLVED?
• Development Team
• Staff Leadership
• Program Team
• Marketing Staff
• Committee Members
• Board Members
• Volunteers
• Consultant(s)
#fundraising

5. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
PLANNING ACTIVITIES
1. Fundraising goals
2. Assessment of resources
3. Funding categories
4. Funding strategies
5. Positioning
6. Implementation
7. Evaluation
8. Samples
#fundraising

6. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
ORGANIZATIONAL
ASSESSMENT
• Planning
• Leadership
• Volunteers
• Development staff
• Financial resources
• Donor research
• Situational analysis
• Environmental scan
• Competitive
advantage
• Fundraising strategies
• Communications &
outreach
#fundraising

7. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
INVENTORY
• Budgets from last 3 yrs.
• Past fundraising plans
• 3-year fundraising goals
• Fundraising history
• Strategic plan/SWOT
• Donor information
• Org structure, history & leadership
• Successes & challenges
#fundraising

8. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
SUCCESS!
• Grow org’s visibility &
capacity
• Expand funding base
• Measure success &
challenges
• Unified strategy
• Increase investment
• Consistent core messaging
• More ambassadors
#fundraising

9. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
“Vulnerability is the
birthplace of creativity,
innovation, and
change.”

~ Dr. Brene Brown
#fundraising

10. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
Fundraising
Plan
Components
INTRODUCTION)
STRATEGIES)
IMPLEMENT)
&)EVALUATE)
SITUATIONAL)
ANALYSIS)
#fundraising

11. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
INTRODUCTION
• Mission & vision
• Organizational history
• Leadership
• Programs
• Strategic plan
• Current financial
position
• Funding goals
• Positioning
• Assumptions for
implementation
• Steps needed for
future funding
#fundraising

12. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS
• Organizational assessment
• Stakeholder feedback
• Environmental scan
• Competitive advantage
• Fundraising history & trends
• Strategy screen
#fundraising
Recommendations
SWOT
External
analysis
Internal
analysis

13. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
STRATEGIES &
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Grow org’s visibility &
capacity
• Expand funding base
• Measure success &
challenges
• Unified strategy
• Increase investment
• Consistent core messaging
• More ambassadors
#fundraising

14. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
FUNDING SOURCES
• Government
• Foundations
• Corporate Giving
• Board Giving
• Individuals
• Fees for Service
• Social Enterprise/ Earned
Income
• Workplace Giving
• Religious Community
• Special Events
• Service Clubs
• Planned Giving
• Endowments
• Capital Campaigns
• Other
#fundraising

15. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
#fundraising
!!
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!
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NEW DONORS
direct mail, events
ANNUAL DONORS
Direct appeals,
volunteer involvement
MAJOR DONORS
Personal asks
Committee and board
involvement
PLANNED GIFTS
Personal asks,
personal involvement,
Could be anyone!

16. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS
• What are the current
relationship(s) we have?
• What are our successes?
• What are our funding amounts?
• How much will we increase
funding in yr 1, yr 2, yr 3?
• What resources will we use?
• What will our approach be?
• Specific examples
#fundraising

17. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
POSITIONING
• Identity statement
• Core messaging
• Campaign messaging
• Marketing
• Outreach – analog & digital
• Branding
• Public relations
• Implementation
#fundraising

18. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
MAKING IT ALL HAPPEN
• Key players (staff, volunteer,
etc.)
• Leadership
• Clear & organized donor
records
• Capacity analysis
• Realistic goals
• Relationships with donors
• Calendar
• Evaluate!!
#fundraising

19. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
• Case statement
• Summary page
• Calendar of activities
• Organizational structure
• Fundraising policies
• Budget(s)
• Professional development
• Descriptions – committee, volunteers, staff
DOCUMENTS
#fundraising

20. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
CASE STATEMENT
• 3 – 5 pages
• Mission statement
• Quotes from community
members
• Share programs
• Funding needs
• Accomplishments and successes
• Contact information
• Summary page: shorter version
of case statement
#fundraising

21. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
POLICIES
• Prospecting policies
• Cultivation & stewardship
policies, processes
• Acknowledgement policies
• Database – gift entry and
recording
• Ethical guidelines
• Sample of Nonprofit
Fundraising Policies
• Gift Acceptance Policy
#fundraising

22. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
• Plan outline
• Created internally vs.
consultant
• Work across skills,
departments
• Build into existing plans
• Make your case
internally
#fundraising

23. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
#fundraising

24. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
RESOURCES
• Association of
Fundraising Professionals
• The Foundation Center
• State Nonprofit
Associations
• Chronicle of Philanthropy
• LinkedIn
• 4Good
#fundraising

25. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
MORE RESOURCES
• Basics in Developing Your Fundraising Plan
• Elements of a Fundraising Plan, Richard Male
• How to Develop a Fundraising Plan, Stonehill
Consulting Group, LLC
• Fundraising Plan Outline, Emily Davis
Consulting
• The Development Plan, Linda Lysakowski
• The Complete Guide to Fundraising
Management, Stanley Weinstein
#fundraising

26. /AskEmilyD /emilydavisconsulting
Emily Davis, MNM
Emily Davis Consulting
[phone]
[email protected]
emilydavisconsulting.com
emilydavisconsulting.com/blog
#fundraising