Families for Depression Awareness is looking for a skilled professional to help develop an improved fundraising plan. The organization was started over 11 years ago and has grown significantly in that time. Our hope is that this plan will help the organization continue to grow and reach its short-term and long-term goals.

Our current funding comes from a mix of individual donors, foundation grants, and pharmaceutical companies. In response to the economic downturn, we realized that we needed to focus on diversifying our funding. In 2012, we launched our inaugural event Strides Against Stigma. Our goal is to review all aspects of fundraising to determine the best areas and methods for growth.

The pro bono fundraising professional would:
• review our current plan
• review current sources of funding
• research new prospective funding sources
• determine the value of all current and potential funding sources
• assist in the creation of realistic growth forecasts for the next five years
• provide a comprehensive plan with tangible, realistic, and specific goals

We believe that this project would be an ideal fit for someone who has three to five years experience in strategy/fundraising and experience with individual donors.

A fundraising plan defines an organization’s fundraising goals, outlines fundraising tactics and lists prospective funding sources. This project will bring in a professional to help review a nonprofit’s fundraising strategy.

Detailed comments based on a thorough review of an existing fundraising plan. A fundraising plan will address the following questions:

• What is the overall fundraising goals? What is the total dollar amount and types (e.g. monetary, in-kind donations, etc) of funds to raise?
• What are organization’s intended uses of the funds?
• How much would the fundraising activities cost? What is the budget?
• What are prospective funding sources: individual donors, corporate sponsorships, government funds, foundations, or special events?
• Where to find prospective funders and how to reach out to them?
• What are the best metrics to measure the success of fundraising campaigns? By amount raised, number of new donors, number of contacts made with foundations, etc.?

1. The organization delivers the existing fundraising plan to the professional for review.

2. The professional meet with the organization to understand the organization's vision, mission, and programs, and discuss the organization’s past fundraising experience, current fundraising goals, available budget for fundraising, and goals for reviewing the fundraising plan.

3. The professional makes the initial review of the plan and sends the first draft along with his/her comments to the organization.

4. The professional and the organization meet to discuss the first draft of the revised plan.

5. The professional does a second and thorough review of the plan, which may include the delivery of an edited or rewritten plan.

6. The professional and the organization meet to discuss the second draft of the plan.

7. The professional incorporates any comments from the organization to finalize the plan.

8. The professional and the organization have a wrap up meeting to review the finalized plan.

Professional

• At least 3 years of experience in nonprofit development and fundraising
• Successful fundraising experience or experience creating a comprehensive fundraising plan for a nonprofit organization

Organization

• A complete fundraising plan to be reviewed
• An Executive Director, and/or Board of Directors who are strongly committed to this project
• Ability to support and sustain fundraising activities