Steier Tips

Are We Ready?
Connecting the Dots in Successful Fundraising

Anyone involved with an organization's development efforts knows firsthand that a successful fundraising initiative begins only after months and months of preparation. The best investment a non-profit can make is budgeting enough time to thoroughly research the needs of the group as well as the support from its members. Too many times we see an organization all too convinced of its needs without having discussed them externally. Consider the following actions when preparing for any fundraising campaign:

1.   Development audit   Capital campaigns are labor intensive and detail driven endeavors that can not only challenge and exhaust even the most seasoned development staff, but can unfortunately catch some off-guard. So you may have your campaign letterhead and Excel spreadsheet ready to go, but are you and your office truly prepared to handle the tasks associated with soliciting funds and all the activities which follow? A development audit provides an inside-out look at your current efforts and resources, and uncovers potential issues ahead of time before they can seriously hinder a multi-million dollar capital appeal.

2.   Leadership consultation forums   This cannot be stressed enough—your leadership extends well beyond those who hold actual titles and positions in the physical space of your organization. When talking about the present and future wants, needs, and demands, have you included the volunteers and supporters who help drive your mission? Nothing pleases a consultant more than heading into a capital campaign after the non-profit has hosted a number of "town-hall" type meetings. Why? These "calls for action" allow open and candid conversation among key supporters regarding the direction of a proposed campaign. The difficulties otherwise surrounding items like volunteer recruitment and donor evaluation are eased substantially when people have had a hands-on opportunity to shape campaign goals.

3.   Feasibility study   Now you've completed the above two tasks, and feel ready to proceed, right? Not yet. Any good trial attorney knows the basic rule of never asking a question without already knowing the answer to it. The same holds true in fundraising. In a feasibility study, you not only have the unique opportunity to begin cultivating your potential appeal prospects, but you also get a chance to ask what level of gift they might consider. So when you're in that solicitation visit and you ask for that major gift, chances are you'll already have an idea of what the answer will be. There is absolutely no better way to introduce a fundraising appeal than by conducting a feasibility study.

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Other Steier Tips articles:

Ask Amounts
Creative Campaigning
Getting Read
Development Doldrums
Getting to Goal
Selling the Mission
Preparing for the Feasibility Study
Volunteer Involvement
Striking Out in a Campaign
New Year's Resolution
Past Donors
Strategies for Success: Job Descriptions
Strategies for Success: Leadership Recruitment
Strategies for Success: Successful Donor Evaluations
Strategies for Success: Solicitation Training
Strategies for Success: Communications
Strategies for Success: Efficient and Effective Databases
Strategies for Success: Thanking Your Volunteers and Donors
Tax Provision a Great Benefit for Donors
"Challenge" Your Campaign
Hosted Events in Capital Campaigns
Are You Ready for a Capital Campaign?
Strategies for Success: The Tortoise and the Hare
The Importance of Personally Visiting Foundations
Make Summer Special
Post Campaign Strategy
Continuous Cultivation
Staying in Front of "Seasonal" Donors
Assessing Your Organization's Year-End Giving Program
Differences Between Development Audit and Capital Campaign
Identifying the Right Leaders
Campaign Communications
Assessing Your Organization's Campaign Readiness
Recruiting and Training Volunteers
The Magic Words
Donor Evaluation - Setting the Request Amount
Consistency in your Development Efforts
Keeping Your Donors Involved
Keeping the Excitement Alive
The Ask
The Importance of Hosted Events
Back to the Future
The Internet: Taking Advantage of the New Normal
The Importance of Recognizing Your Donors
Getting Off to a Good Start: The Importance of the Feasibility Study
Volunteer Training

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