(This is a follow-up piece to the posting What Do You Call The Staff Person In Charge of Raising Charitable Contributions?) The title question is often asked by new and fairly young nonprofit organizations; and, depending on the age, size, mission, location, etc. of the organization, there can be many different answers. As noted previously, …
Finance/
Financing & Loans
I got a note, recently, from a retired friend/colleague, as follows: Our Retirement Community’s leadership has put out several RFPs to local consultants for a planned Capital Campaign Feasibility Study. The “cattle call” will be one day in March when the consultants will make pitches to several Community officials, none having much knowledge of capital …
The five basic elements in Major Gift Fundraising are Leadership, a Prospect Base, Involvement by Prospective Donors in various aspects of organizational life, a Donor Recognition Program, and someone to Guide the process. 1. Leadership includes the organization’s CEO, Trustees and (often) key volunteers. It’s their role to define the funding need, take their case …
By definition, a Capital Campaigns is an intense effort to acquire sufficient commitments to add up to a specific large sum, for a specific valid/urgent purpose. The word “Capital” refers to the money needed to erect/expand/renovate a building, the funding needed for the purchase/installation/overhaul of (major) equipment and the funding to create/expand an endowment. The …
For the last 60-70 years, a Feasibility Study has been “required” before planning and/or implementing any major fundraising effort, and its basic concept and structure hasn’t changed in all that time; and, it is my contention that the Feasibility Study is not only obsolete, it’s counter-productive. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that …
Most non-profits don’t live on grants from corporations, foundations and governments, or from event generated income. Roughly 80% of contributed dollars come from individual donors or their estates. And the common wisdom is that at least 80% of that amount — or about two-thirds of all contributed dollars – come as major gifts from individuals. …
Ideally, from day one, an organization should have someone who knows/understands the NPO, its mission, its leadership, and its hopes and aspirations. This person like the Director of Development should have the experience and skills to help the NPO plan for next week and next year. This person should have input at all levels, should …