Private foundations have received requests for funds from more and more nonprofits. As individual donors are more strategic in their donations, the competition between nonprofits is heating up. With a major loss in the stock market almost three years ago, the foundations are working hard to bring their balances above 2008 levels.

Many donors were impacted by the downturn in the economy through job loss, an increase in basic necessities (food, fuel, etc.), or a loss in investments. At the same time, more and more charities are sending letters and emails requesting donations.

True development professionals see this challenge as an opportunity to improve relationships with their donors. Looking inward, to employees, staff, and board members is great place to start. By collectively pooling contacts, you will be surprised how many leads can be generated out of the employee and volunteer base.

When a nonprofit organization takes on a new team member, no matter what position, this member should be cross-trained to have a solid base of knowledge in many areas outside of his or her area of expertise. Advancing the organization’s mission is for the greater good and that is why development is everyone’s job. It is in everyone’s best interest to pitch in where they can to ensure the organization’s vitality. Every employee and Board member can play a key role by talking up the organization to friends, neighbors, and relatives. When people talk about something they are passionate about, word gets around, and people that give to charities like to know that the organizations they have chosen are both innovative and in a stable financial position.

Typical services offered include:

• General fundraising – We will create and implement traditional fundraising tools such as annual appeals, capital campaigns and direct-mail solicitations to establish a base of donor support
• Individual Donor Outreach – We will identify, research and contact foundations, charities and public financing sources to ensure your organizational vision reaches the funders that will make it a reality
• Board Development – We will work with your Board to grow their fundraising capacity and understand their role in the development process
• Staff training – We can provide your staff with the tools to understand the importance of fundraising for the success of your organization. Employees will gain a better understanding of how they can support development through their work
• Communications – We will help you develop engaging communications strategies that will keep your donors and prospect informed and involved in your efforts year-round