How to begin preparing for the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) application and exam
For those interested, in the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential, the most often asked question is, "How do I prepare for the application and the exam?"
Well, for starters, the CFRE is the first globally recognized credential…
How to have the most leverage in your new fundraising office
Many organisations when seeking to start their first development office do not which way to turn or where to start first.
Far too many organisations often start and end with grant writing. They don't get beyond this particular strategy…
How to have an immediate impact in your new fundraising position
You have just been offered a job as a Director of Development and now what?
Well, over the past twenty years, I have had my share of jobs and have started some fundraising offices within nonprofits as part of my consulting practice. As a…
How to create a quick and easy fundraising plan to help you reach your goals
So, maybe you have been operating without a plan up until now. And, that is ok, but it is not strategic, and to meet your goals, you need to have a plan that you follow, monitor, and correct if needed.
Here are some simple instructions on…
How a gift range chart can help you raise more money even in your small nonprofit
One might think that gift range charts are just for large projects such as capital campaigns or for significant fundraising efforts. And, while, yes, there is some truth to that, gift range charts can be used effectively in even the smallest…
New “DCS” interim development services
Development Consulting Solutions is announcing NEW interim and project-based service offerings:
Who is DCS?
There are limited Certified Fund-Raising Executives (CFRE) providing outsourced fund development services and serving as interim…
Do not take Fundraising best practices at face value!
Best practices. We hear that phrase often. This week, I even read a question asking if "best practices were misleading?"
Are we throwing that phrase around to legitimize our field? Our do we have best practices and what are they?
Well, I contend…
Fundraising audits inside and out
The fundraising audit is a major step in fundraising planning. When you think about planning, you think about where are we, where do we want to be, and how are we going to get there?
The fundraising audit helps you to determine, where are…
Why do good grant applications fail?
Why good grant applications fail.
Yes, every grant you write will not be funded. That is a reality. I know, you and I both wish that they were, but that's not always the case.
According to The Fund Raising School at the Indiana University…
Plan before you prepare your next proposal.
What are the first steps to your grant planning?
First you need to document your funding priorities with custom tailored cases for supports that can be used to match up to a funders priority.
Once you have outlined your needs, the next steps…
How to raise $75,000 in 7 months through grant writing
I raised $85,000 for an organisations in 7 months. How?
Grant writing!
I bet you didn't know that was a skill set of DCS, oh but it is!
In the past 7 months that I have worked with an elder care facility, I have been busy raising money through…
Budget cuts, oh budget cuts…how fair art thou?
It seems everywhere I turn these days, I hear of more budget cuts heading down the “turnpike” of non-profit funding. Just today, I read about the MA state House Committee on Ways and Means proposes yet another $1.2 million cut to arts, sciences…
