Newsletters, direct mail appeals, telemarketing campaigns, annual galas, golf tournaments, auction bid sheets, board appeals, grant deadlines, budgets, reports, social media posts, acknowledgments, end-of-year projections, legacy society, major donor visits, staff reviews, and board assessments!

As a non-profit executive, this is what you contend with every day. How many times have you asked yourself, “How are we ever going to get all of this accomplished while ensuring that we raise enough money to keep programs funded, meet payroll, and keep the lights on?” Not to mention plan for the future so that your organization continues to evolve and grow to meet the changing needs of the community that you serve.

Now imagine adding to the above list! You need to come up with a strategic plan that keeps your mission viable into the future. You have an opportunity to purchase the perfect building to accommodate your growing staff or to add new programs, or you need to take a deep dive into evaluating the effectiveness of your board.

Can your senior leadership team and development staff effectively manage something as important as a strategic plan, multi-year capital campaign, creation of a comprehensive development plan, or board assessment while ensuring that the day-to-day activities of the organization continue in an impactful way?

After 27 years in the trenches as a development professional, I can tell you from my experience that hiring a seasoned, trusted consultant with a long track-record of success is a sound investment in your organization’s future and ensures a high probability for success.

I’ve been with organizations that have tried to do strategic planning and even capital campaigns without the guidance of an experienced consultant, and it did not go well. Important steps were skipped, short cuts were taken and frankly, senior staff and board members alike simply did not have the expertise to successfully undertake these important initiatives while also managing the daily demands of their job. Staff were burned out; other tasks were being neglected and the results did not meet projections which made everyone feel like their hard work was in vain.

I’ve also witnessed what happens when you hire a consultant strictly based on a lower fee versus experience. It was a nightmare. The direction was poor. The focus kept shifting and they weren’t capable of keeping staff on task. It felt scattered and misdirected, and the end result was a weak strategic plan that was only partially carried out.

If your organization is considering a strategic plan, a capital campaign, a reworked development plan or board assessment, please also consider the merits of interviewing experienced consultants who will help your organization be successful. The return on investment evaluating and hiring the right consultant will be time and money well-spent!

Making a Difference
By John Brooks, Senior Consultant

27 years ago, I would have never guessed that I would be in the development field and now, I can’t imagine myself doing anything else. I was fortunate enough to have worked with somebody who mentored and encouraged me to make the move to development work where I could combine the skills I had acquired over my career with my desire to make a difference in the world.

When I started as a development associate at Special Olympics Connecticut back in 1996, several of my friends asked me what I was doing for a living. I excitedly told them all about the fundraising events I helped organize, the meetings with donors, the national conferences I got to attend, the direct mail appeals and telemarketing scripts I helped create and the donor visits I lead at the Summer & Winter Games. They looked at me in a funny way and asked, “But what’s your job?” “That’s your volunteer work, right? Do you get paid to do that?” What other profession do you get to work in where you meet so many great people while at the same time helping to make the world just a little bit better? And right now, the world needs as many of us making a difference as possible!

A global pandemic, climate change, systemic racism, poverty, homelessness, drug addiction, immigration, clean air and water, access to affordable health care, human rights and so much more – these are just a few of the most serious issues facing society and we, as fundraisers get to be part of the solution. We are often the conduit to that change. We get to help people make a difference!

I’ve shared this story many times, but it really exemplifies the fundraising profession: I had a donor who I was working with for a few years. The family’s contributions steadily increased as our relationship grew and as they learned more about the impact our organization had on so many people in their community. Each year their contribution increased until one year they doubled their support over the prior year. It was such a powerful moment when I was handed a six-figure check and before I could say a word, the donor said something I didn’t expect – she said, “thank you.”

Imagine, I was handed a huge check and the donor thanked me. They weren’t able to volunteer, serve meals, join an advocacy committee, spend an overnight with our clients through their church or join the board. She thanked me for providing her family with the opportunity to make a difference in a manner most suitable to their situation.

That’s what we do every day. We connect people to the causes that they are passionate about. We help them make a difference.

As far back as I can remember, I’ve had a statement on my resume under my professional objective that simply says – “To Make a Difference.” I am proud to be in this profession and looking forward to working with Sharon and her team in our shared vision “To Make a Difference.”