Strategic Development Assessment
Successful fundraising isn’t magic. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula. But organizations that consistently achieve or exceed their fundraising goals have key elements in place:
- A strong organizational culture of philanthropy
- An annual development plan detailing fundraising priorities and goals
- A compelling case for support describing why funds are needed
- Targeted lists of prospects that align with your mission
- Programs/services with measurable impact
- Varied initiatives that include opportunities to engage donors and prospects with your programs
How do you determine what’s needed to improve your development efforts?
Whether you’re a solo fundraiser leading a small development program or at a large nonprofit as part of a robust team, you must assess where you’ve been to map out a plan for where you need to go.
In our strategic assessment engagements, we evaluate your fundraising tactics to examine where you’ve been effective and where you’re spending time with little reward. We also assess how your board and staff leaders are participating in development, and how well your communications and program activities contribute to your efforts. We use this information to create a customized assessment report, strategic plan, and roadmap (see Planning page for more details) to improve outcomes and increase funding.
"Focus Fundraising has been a great partner in helping us map out our development plans. For our fundraising audit, they took the time to dig deep to get at the heart of what's necessary to build on opportunities and overcome challenges. I wholeheartedly recommend the Focus team to guide nonprofits in their fundraising and donor engagement work."
VP, Development & Engagement
Elizabeth Dole Foundation