Is a fund development strategy at your organization non-existent? Are you a grass roots organization looking to establish a fund development strategy? Here are a few things that I have learned while being a fund development professional that will help you begin to wrap your brain around the concept of fundraising.

1. of Fund Development
© Tatum Hawkins

2. ASK
It all comes down to the ask, “will you invest in
furthering our mission by making a gift”, or however
you choose to say it. Donors will not know what you
need unless you share the need with them and ask
them to help meet the need.

3. BUDGET
Know your budget so you can know how
much you need to raise. If you have the
resources, set a budget for fund
development activities.

4. CROWDFUNDING
An online fundraising tool that allows
supporters, and those who may not be
familiar with your organization, to support
your cause.

5. DATABASE
A database allows you to store information
about donors and their giving activity. They
also create a framework for which donors
to solicit for campaigns and appeals.

6. ENTRY
…or point of entry is the activity that introduced
the donor to your cause. Point of entry activities
provide opportunities for prospective donors to
learn about your cause.

7. FUNDRAISER
An event or activity that raises funds for your cause.
Fundraisers can be large in scale like a gala, or as small
as a bake sale. They provide supporters with an
opportunity to support your cause with a monetary
donation.

8. GIVING CLUB
An opportunity for donors to support your cause at a
designated giving level. Giving clubs provide giving level
options and often come with special recognition. They can
also be used to solicit a specific demographic, like young
professionals or major donors.

9. HELP
Fund development can be challenging and demanding,
so it never hurts to ask for help. Volunteers are often
willing to help with fund development activities if they
are skilled in a specific area or can provide
administrative assistance.

10. INNOVATE
Donors get asked to give from many different organizations in
many different ways. Coming up with an innovative approach to
asking or a unique way to solicit sponsorships can set your
request apart from the rest. In addition, giving trends are always
changing, it’s important to be able to keep up with and create new
approaches to fund development.

11. JOIN A NETWORK
It is helpful to be a part of a group of fund
development professionals that share the same
challenges as you. Networking groups can be a great
support system and a place to learn how other
organizations effectively fundraise.

12. KEEP IN TOUCH
Donors are your stakeholders, so it is important to
keep them informed on how their donations are being
put to use. There are many ways to keep in touch,
including phone calls, emails, and personal notes.

13. LYBUNT
This term means donors who gave Last Year But Not
This year. Knowing who your LYBUNTs are is a great
way to track donor retention. It is also a group that
you want to continue to stay connected with in an
effort to get them back engaged.

14. MOVES MANAGEMENT
This is a term that describes the process of how you move donors
through your fund development process. What steps do you take
from getting to know a donor to getting them involved in giving?
It also describes the steps you take to move donors from one
giving level to the next. Steps could include inviting them to serve
on a committee or attending a program related event.

15. NO
It is never easy to hear the word “no”, but it will
happen, someone will turn down your request for
support. But be encouraged, no doesn’t always
mean never, it just might mean not right now.

16. It is important to maintain organization because fund
development comes with a lot of moving parts. You are
constantly working with people, money, events, databases,
campaigns, and much more. Having organization to your
processes, procedures, and files can alleviate stress and
confusion.
ORGANIZE

17. PLAN
A fund development plan helps staff and board members
come together around a common goal of raising the
necessary funds to support the work of the organization.
The plan sets goals, identifies strategies and tactics, sets a
timeline, and provides a framework for future years.

18. QUANTITY
Some organizations have many donors that give a
little and some organizations have few donors that
give a lot. Focus on the quality of the relationship
with your donors and that can result in increased
giving and other positive outcomes.

19. REPORT
Maintain accurate records so you can be
prepared to report on progress toward goals and
activities. Reporting also helps to adjust
strategy when goals are not being met.

20. STEWARDSHIP
Stewardship is the act of showing appreciation for
your donor’s support. It includes acknowledging,
thanking, engaging and being transparent.
Stewardship activities maintain the relationship
between the donor and the organization.

21. TELL YOUR STORY
An effective way to get donors involved in your
organization is to simply tell your story. The
organization’s cause is what will resonate first with
donors. Give them the why, what, and how.

22. UTILIZE THE BOARD
The board of directors is one of the greatest
resources in fund development. Equip and
engage board members in the fund development
process.

23. VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are a huge asset to an organization and can be
a great help during events and campaigns. They are also
potential donors who may be more inclined to give because
they have already invested their time and talent into your
cause.

24. WORK YOUR PLAN
Now that you have a fund development plan it’s time
to work your plan. It is easy to get distracted or off
track, but if you stick to your plan you will have the
strategies that you need to work towards the goal.

25. YEAR END APPEAL
End of year giving is a time when many organizations take
advantage of the “season of giving”. It’s also a time when donors
try to get there donations in before the end of the year, for tax
claim purposes. Year end appeals include a combination of
methods to solicit donations from supporters, including: letters,
social media, events, and emails.

26. Z
…I’ve got nothing, but I hope this was helpful (I didn’t
have anything for X either, but I had hoped you
wouldn’t catch that).