Strategic Planning for Resource Development

Before your non-profit begins its fundraising, it is important to address a basic question: How can you achieve your goals with the means that you have on hand? There are many fundraising methods, but not all are necessarily appropriate and with limited resources you need to prioritize your investment. A professionally designed work plan will enable you to focus your time, energy and personnel on those efforts most likely to help you succeed in resource development.

In creating a strategic plan for your resource development, our office offers two different approaches:

• Short term: Working with a small number of your key lay leaders and/or professional staff, we will develop a comprehensive work plan which will include information on fundraising methods, time tables, costs, required investment in time and expected project outcomes. This staff-focused method will require between 10 – 20 hours of work.
• Donor-focused: Over a period of three to six months, we will reach out to involve all current and potential target populations and involve them in determining the strategic plans for expanding your organization and its resource development. Since the goal of the plan is to identify potential major donors, this process is often a precursor to embarking on a fundraising drive (capital campaigns in particular). The donor-focused campaign requires between 40 – 60 hours and addition to your staff's time.