Professional Services

Fundraising is an art and a science. Nonprofits of all sizes need and deserve professional fundraising expertise, especially when navigating today's unprecedented circumstances. I've developed wide-ranging knowledge and a large repertoire of innovative practices through years serving as the lead fundraising professional for nonprofits raising $1.5M to $25M annually, and through years of service on the Nonprofit Excellence Awards Selection Committee.

I specialize in:

Creating robust development plans that leverage an organization's strengths and address all major income areas
Energizing and equipping board members and other ambassadors to raise funds effectively and proactively
Re-envisioning fundraising events and donor engagement vehicles given pandemic-related constraints
Creating compelling case for support language and materials

My expertise spans these areas:

Capacity-Building

Creating comprehensive fundraising plans, including strategies for:

Foundation and corporate support
Special events
Board giving, engagement, and development
Major gifts
Individual giving and appeals
Planned giving
Recognition and stewardship
Infrastructure needs, including technology and data management

Special events management, including:

Re-envisioning of flagship galas and other fundraising events
Sponsorships and pricing structures for virtual events
Creation of signature or anniversary events
Integration with campaigns and donor stewardship

Board development, including:

Pipeline and recruiting
Governance best practices
Enhancing fundraising role

Communications

Capacity-Building

Creating donor and organizational collateral — writing and editing; conceptualizing, art directing, and executing:

Case statements
Annual Reports
Donor-facing informational brochures and other collateral
Online content
Organizational website development

Appeals integrating "snail mail," email, and social media:

Direct mail marketing plans
Email marketing plans with appeals
Annual fund campaigns and special appeals

Communications plans:

Donor stewardship through recognition
"Investor communications"
Integration of the case for support across all organizational communications

Foundation and Corporate Support

Creating effective strategies for approaching institutional donors:

Interpreting giving interests
Developing alternative strategies to letters of inquiry
Engaging stakeholders in forging connections

Delivery of proposals, letters of inquiry, and reports:

Conceptualizing
Writing, and editing
Building a library of proposal templates
Training and mentoring staff
Building and managing timelines and prospect lists

Support

Foundation and Corporate Support

Assessment of current development strategies; recommendations for:

Staffing and infrastructure needs
Technology and data management
Measures of success that meet donors' expectations

Services that address many other needs, such as:

Prospecting and research - institutional and individual donors
Special events management
Database and data reporting best practices
Gift acknowledgement accountability and best practices
Mailing list management