This site is designed to provide the format, information and tools needed to prepare a fund development plan for a nonprofit, charitable organization.  A detailed outline of a fund development plan is shown below.  We are making a few changes to the site. When complete, the plan will contain links to the needed information and resources. 

Fund Development Plan Outline

1. Understanding Your Organization

• How was the nonprofit organization started, for what purpose and by whom?
• Did the organization follow model of similar organizations in other places or is the organization the first of its kind?
• What are some of the key accomplishments and milestones?
• Are their aspects of the organization's historical culture that affect fund development? 

• What type of organization is it IE society, non-profit company, foundation, etc.? 
• What is the makeup of Board and how they are elected or selected? 
• What strategies are in place for Board membership mix?
• What is the type of organization in terms of its life-cycle stage and what is the appropriate organizational strategy for that stage?
• Are there any policies, official or unofficial, which may prohibit certain types of fundraising?
• Is fund development is a part of the strategic plan for the organization? 

• Investigate other organizations that are doing similar work.
• How do these organizations fundraise and what are their other revenue sources? - to answer this question, we will review their annual reports, which may be available online.
• Identify any metrics that have developed that indicate a sector standard for fundraising IE hospital foundations represent 1% of revenue of parent organization.

• Government grants
• Major funding IE United Way, Foundations
• Board and society member donations
• Corporate donations and partners
• Number and size of annual donations from fundraising
• Gaming revenue – casinos, bingo, etc.
• Special Events and Corporate sponsorships

• What is the amount of annual operating budget that must come from fundraising?
• What are the program and capital needs that must be met from, or subsidized by, fundraising campaigns or related activities?
• Are their opportunities to set financial goals beyond annual needs?
• What is the long range vision and future fundraising goals IE building endowment?
• What are the strategies for continued awareness and promotion?

• We develop a case statement or "Case for Support" document as a part of the fund development plan or review and validate the present case statement.

• We review the fundraising database you are using or plan to use to determine if it will meet the needs of the strategies identified in the new plan.
• We review and make recommendations of gift acceptance policies.
• Review the receipt and gift acknowledgment processes in place. 
• Develop a strategy for donor acquisition.
• Recommend strategies for use of existing database for prospect identification and data-mining.
• There are many tools available for prospect and donor research and commercial databases that require a subscription - identify the research capabilities and needs within your organization
• Track Board connections to prospects and develop a method for tracking their contacts with these prospects

• We develop a pr and communications plan that supports the fundraising plan.
• The case for support will identify key messages to key stakeholders and target audiences.
• The plan will include a variety of media such as newsletters, website, in-house communications,  media releases, advertising and awareness raising events

• Identify the people who are dedicated to fundraising and support fundraising. 
• Review the fundraising staff and their job descriptions and identify any gaps in staffing.
• Make a recommended budget for the fund development plan, estimating your fundraising revenue and the expenses you will have to generate that revenue.

• There are a variety of fund development activities and fundraising methods that may or may not be a fit with your organization.  We will recommend the best fit given the results of our analysis.

• We will create a donor recognition plan that is unique to your circumstances or make recommendations based on your present plan.

• The plan will include both organizational charts and job descriptions for everyone that has a role in implementing the plan.  We will also create timelines for the annual coordination of all activities and timelines for specific activities within the overall plan.