Strategic planning and tactical fundraising can maximize income and
minimize costs
Fundraising is the lifeblood of the nonprofit, and, successful or
otherwise, determines the organization's ability to provide for the
group it serves. Every organization attempts to lower overhead while
increasing donations, but this often proves to be impossible within
existing frameworks. Effective fundraising - increasing donations while
engaging more donors and lowering costs - requires a sound strategy that
turns major roadblocks into minor hurdles that are easily overcome. It's
not about trying harder, it's about working smarter.
Fundraising the SMART Way provides the groundwork for a complete
revamp of organizational fundraising systems. Author Ellen Bristol
applies twenty years of corporate sales experience and eighteen years in
fund development consultation to the problem of inefficient fundraising.
Bristol turns her extensive sales expertise toward the perspective of
"selling" an organization to potential donors, increasing the donor
pool, and lowering the cost of fundraising. The book details the
questions every nonprofit should be asking to maximize the effectiveness
of fundraising efforts, and encourages systematic strategy development
by zeroing in on key factors such as:
- Organizational goals, strengths, and weaknesses
- Donor actions and motivations
- Workload management and results QA
- Opportunity evaluation and organizational action
The book outlines clear, concrete, actionable steps that can be
immediately implemented to escalate income growth. Effective fundraising
is sustainable, consistent, and on-target. It must exceed current need
and expand to fill future need. Fundraising the SMART Way represents a
true breakthrough in that it lays a foundation for true systemic
overhaul, and can be the catalyst for the growth of any nonprofit.
