Advancement program assessments

Counsel will analyze, evaluate and suggest ways to strengthen your current program, including both long-range and short-term goals for obtaining understanding of and support for your school. This effort will entail reviewing all means of revenue generated within the advancement program at the school. This effort will entail analyzing your entire advancement program in light of staffing model, operational practices, national standards, and philanthropic outcomes. Our emphasis will be on offering keen insight and advice on actionable steps to be taken to optimize engagement, maximize revenue, and advance mission.

 

Capital Campaign feasibility studies

Counsel will conduct this review consisting of screening, prospecting, and interviewing top gift and key multi-constituent prospects. Upon completion of this review, a report outlining interest and opportunity will be presented detailing a comprehensive review of the perception and interest among your key constituents as well as an assessment of the gift capacity, donor inclination and potential leadership required for success in any campaign.  Our process would entail:

 

• 40- 50 Confidential Interviews of Top Rated Prospects

• 5-7 Staff, Key Volunteer Interviews

• Comprehensive Prospect Centered Report

• Analysis of Institutional Strengths and Weaknesses

• Analysis of Philanthropic Strengths and Weaknesses

• Summary Report on Prospect Capacity, Inclination and Institutional Relationship

• Comprehensive Review of Scale of Gifts vs. Donor Inclination

• Detailed Recommendations to enhance Donor Relationship, Interest and Inclination

Capital Campaign counsel and management

As campaign counsel we recognize each effort during this process can be seen as a step toward moving prospects through the funnel of the campaign in a systematic and organized fashion. As counsel, we pride ourselves on managing this effort in a systematic way that maximizes prospect involvement and investment:

 

• Identification

• Research

• Cultivation

• Solicitation

• Stewardship

 

Counsel will work directly with organizational leaders in identifying, recruiting and training key leaders to help implement this comprehensive effort. These leaders will be identified in order to utilize existing relationships and maximize gift opportunities and supervised within the volunteer leadership framework. Various training sessions will be conducted to motivate and train leadership volunteers in gift solicitation. Each volunteer will be assigned a responsibility within the campaign and will be provided volunteer job descriptions in order to define expectations and enhance accountability.

 

Counsel will institute a comprehensive and integrated campaign timeline designed for accountability, maximizing philanthropy, consistent communication, and sense of volunteer ownership and empowerment.

 

Counsel will advise and help draft a variety of materials and multi-media opportunities; design of a giving brochure; establish a communication plan; and assist in developing gift solicitation forms and acknowledgments. Any successful campaign effort will need attractive, articulate and concise brochures, letterhead, communiqués, and acknowledgments.

 

Counsel will ensure industry standard reporting and gift acknowledgment methods. Additionally, all solicitations, commitments, and acknowledgments will be consistent in nature and meet all state and federal regulations regarding tax implications, and personal binding clauses.

 

Counsel will provide recommendations for stewarding the level of generosity in the campaign in the areas of naming opportunities, recognition methods, donor receptions, printed materials, giving brochures and gift reports.

 

Case statement preparation

If the strategic plan is the precursor to any successful campaign initiative, then the Case Statement is the foundation from which any campaign effort should be initiated. The Case must clearly and concisely inspire and call to action potential investors in the future of your school or parish. The Case forms the articulated philanthropic goals and aspirations of your community. Counsel will help to develop a compelling case for support in narrative form that informs, inspires and maximizes broad-based and strategic interest in your philanthropic goals.

 

Board and volunteer leadership

Counsel will review existing volunteer leadership opportunities both within the school and the advancement program in order to provide assistance in establishing a good organizational model. This effort will ensure that the existing talent and leadership available - both on the staff and from volunteer groups - are organized into the most effective team possible, while involving more people in the life of the school. Counsel will provide detailed recommendations on committees, structure, roles and responsibilities, and volunteer recruitment. This approach will sustain existing talents, maximize accountability, avoid burnout, and assist in achieving long-term goals.

 

Major gifts and planned giving counsel

Counsel will work with your team to develop an ongoing program to build resources through major and planned gifts---one that would complement your existing advancement program for many years to come.

 

Strategic planning

The precursor to any successful campaign is the articulation of a clear and comprehensive vision. This strategic plan should combine the needs-assessment with the vision for the school.  A strategic plan becomes the working document to which the President, Principal, the Board of Trustees, and the Director of Advancement refer to in shaping the Case for Support.  Counsel will work closely with the President and the Board of Trustees in developing  a process of engagement and visioning that leads to a plan that is shared, understood and embraced as a road map for the envisioned future of your organization as a catalyst for enhanced philanthropic support.

 

Maximizing Your Annual Fund

Counsel will assess and, if need be, recommend changes to implement a comprehensive annual giving program for all constituencies. Strategies will be developed for overall annual fund management and segmentation, leadership committee recruitment and structure, direct mail, phone-a-thon, reunion giving, matching gifts, and personal solicitations. Counsel will also work with your team in developing a fully segmented, highly integrated annual fund.

 

Prospect research

Counsel will advise you on how to identify, qualify and segment your top prospects and constituents by capacity and inclination in order to develop a personalized strategy for cultivation and solicitation.

 

Donor relations and stewardship

Counsel will provide creative and personalized stewardship standards for prospect tiers within the advancement program. Recognizing stewardship is not the last step of the gift received, but rather the first step toward the next gift it will be strategic to embrace new found stewardship standards to further engage qualified prospects in the life of your organization.

 

Audit and Design of a Communications Plan

Counsel will review all existing communication methods and publications and guide you in preparing a communications plan for consistent and comprehensive relationships with all constituencies. Strategies and programs will be suggested for strengthening overall visibility and credibility among your primary and secondary constituencies through your programs of public relations, publicity, publications, and  social media.

 

Alumni and constituent relations

Counsel will analyze, evaluate and suggest ways to strengthen your relationship with your alumni, parents, parents of alumni, grandparents and prepare a plan to involve each more effectively in the life of the school. This effort will focus on the formation or enhancement of any existing associations, class agent program, class and school-wide reunions, and homecoming, locating lost alumni, strategic communiqués and other constituent programs. All in order to advance the long-term interest of each constituency in the life of your organization.

 

Special event management

Counsel will provide direction on existing special events with the intent of maintaining a cohesive community while also avoiding volunteer and constituent burnout. These guidelines will address the who, what, when, where, why and how of hosting special events. In addition, we will discuss the strategies for conducting successful social and fundraising events that raise funds, funds,build community, share your vision, and cultivate prospects for enhanced and sustainable support.

 

Advancement program policies and procedures

 

Team development and training