Creating The Small/New Organization Fundraising Plan

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on April 20, 2016

Far too many small/new nonprofits think of fundraising in the context of an activity, but a Fundraising Plan is not the equivalent of “Let’s Put On A Play….” For those of you who don’t recognize the Mickey Rooney reference, the phrase is the equivalent of “let’s do a fund-raiser,” the kind of thinking that does […]

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The Role of the Board in Church “Owned” Nonprofits

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on April 13, 2016

An email began: A chapter of Catholic Charities is set up as a single-member corporation, that member being the diocese as represented by the bishop. The board is convinced that they are really just an advisory board and have no right, authority, or need to question the actions or expenditures of the CEO, and are […]

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So, You Think You Want To Be A Fundraising/Development Consultant !!

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on April 6, 2016

You may be an experienced, knowledgeable development professional, and you may know/discover what is it that a (prospective) client needs, but a basic concept of the consulting business is that you can only sell a nonprofit what it wants to buy. The larger the NPO, (usually) the better they understand the elements of the development […]

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Can Two Nonprofits, With Very Different Missions, Hold A Joint Fund-Raiser?

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on March 30, 2016

That was a question that recently found my email inbox, along with the explanation that one of those organizations has a medical focus, the other is in the arts. My immediate thought/response was, simply, “Yes.” You just have to be sure that both organizations have a signed agreement as to how the expenses will be […]

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Development Communications

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on March 23, 2016

It may get old, hearing the same thing over and over again, but it’s still worth starting a posting with a reminder that “Development” is about relationship building … with the intent that the relationships that are built will result in (financial) support for the nonprofit organization. Development Communications function in helping to build those […]

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The Executive Director’s Role in the Development/Fundraising Process

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on March 15, 2016

There is an old saying in the development field, that a person soliciting a major gift can only ask for a gift equal to or less than the gift he/she has made … with three exceptions: a person of the clergy, a prominent community figure/politician and a nonprofit Executive Director (or whatever the title held […]

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What is the Role of a Development Officer ?

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on March 9, 2016

First, going back to the definition of “development,” it is the creation, nurturing, and maintaining relationships that (ideally) engender charitable contributions. If that is a Development Officer’s basic role, how does that apply to the various roles that they play ?? So, let’s start with the Development Officers who function in a limited arena – […]

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Why Staff Members Shouldn’t Be Fundraisers

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on March 2, 2016

Note, I used the term “fundraisers” in the title, not Development Officers. It is an important distinction. Maybe, also, the title should be “Why Fundraisers Shouldn’t Be Staff Members.” Development officers plan/design and evaluate development programs. They work with board members and volunteers to identify potential donors. They work to develop plans for the cultivation […]

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What Do You Call The Staff Person In-Charge of Fundraising?

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on February 24, 2016

(This is a follow up piece to the posting What Do You Call The Staff Person In Charge of Raising Charitable Contributions?) The title question is often asked by new/fairly young nonprofit organizations; and, depending on the age/size/mission/location/etc. of the organization, there can be many different answers. As noted previously, the simple answer to the […]

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The Feasibility Study Rears It’s Ugly Head, Again !!

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on February 18, 2016

I got a note, recently, from a retired friend/colleague, as follows: Our Retirement Community’s leadership has put out several RFPs to local consultants for a planned Capital Campaign Feasibility Study. The “cattle call” will be one day in March when the consultants will make pitches to several Community officials, none having much knowledge of capital […]

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