On-Going Development and Campaign Counsel

FRCI’s On-Going Development and Campaign Counsel provides regular professional support and advice to an organization’s leadership throughout an on-going fundraising effort. Through regular meetings, phone calls and electronic communication, FRCI serves as an extension of your board and staff. This service can include the following:

  • Participating in, and guiding, regularly scheduled meetings to keep fund raising progress moving forward.
  • Providing on-call access for board or staff members, via phone or email, to discuss strategic and tactical questions.
  • Preparing key staff and volunteers for solicitations.
  • Participating in key staff, board or committee meetings, either in person or via conference call.
  • Training staff and volunteers who play key roles in the fundraising operation.
  • Supporting the preparation of key staff and volunteers for solicitations.
  • Helping develop individual strategies for major gift prospects.
  • Assisting in the analysis and development of board and/or development committee meeting agendas to enhance maximum effectiveness.
  • Helping create, monitor and evaluate an organization’s development plan.
  • Assisting in the creation and review of an organization’s prospect management system.
  • Helping create and review an organization’s prospect list of foundations, corporations, individuals and government funding sources.
  • Assisting with the analysis and development of an organization’s donor cultivation and stewardship program.

Development Program Review and Plan Development

A Development Program Review analyzes your organization’s development program from a best-practices perspective, and provides recommendations to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of your overall fund raising program. FRCI consultants meet with key staff, board members and donors to analyze fund raising practices, programming, policies, strategies and structure, and will prepare an in-depth written report for your board of directors and executive staff with a series of recommendations, including practical and specific steps, to maximize the effectiveness of your organization’s development program. A Development Program Review normally takes six to eight weeks to complete.

Campaign Readiness Assessment

For organizations contemplating a campaign in the next twelve to twenty-four months, FRCI will couple a Development Program Review with a Campaign Readiness Assessment. This review will analyze your organization’s current development program, staff knowledge and capabilities, donor base and level of board commitment and understanding as they relate to a campaign effort. FRCI will meet with key staff, board members and donors. FRCI will also analyze your organization’s giving history, initial prospect pool, fund raising practices, publications, donor relations program and prospect management system and policies and organizational structure. In addition, the analysis will outline the steps which need to be taken to prepare for a campaign and identify the gaps in your organization’s fundraising effort which need to be addressed in order to ensure a successful campaign result. FRCI will prepare an in-depth written report for the board of directors and executive staff. This report will provide your organization with a straight-forward roadmap to begin a campaign effort. A Campaign Readiness Assessment normally takes eight to twelve weeks to complete.

Feasibility Studies

FRCI will conduct a feasibility study to assess the potential for success of a capital or major gifts campaign. The most important goal of a feasibility study is to cultivate the interest of key donors and leaders for the proposed campaign.

FRCI will design and conduct a series of interviews to assess your organization’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as the likelihood of success of a proposed campaign. A feasibility study will assess the following:

  • Your organization’s readiness to undertake a campaign.
  • The community’s perceptions about your organization.
  • The general appeal of your organization’s programs.
  • The general philanthropic environment.
  • The availability of volunteer leadership.
  • The likelihood of potential donors to support your campaign.

Campaign Management

FRCI can provide on-site management for campaigns. In this scenario, FRCI provides a campaign manager to manage the day-to-day work of your organization’s campaign, under the supervision of a FRCI principal.

Campaign management begins with the development of an in-depth campaign plan, including a month-by-month schedule for the duration of the campaign. FRCI will provide a detailed road map for cultivating and soliciting donors at all levels. FRCI will also furnish guidelines for enlisting and managing volunteers to participate in the campaign.

Planned Giving Program Design

Planned giving is one of the most effective ways to build an endowment and to provide for the financial stability of an organization. FRCI can assist your organization in the design and execution of a planned giving program.

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