Catchafire

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Donor Relations Strategy

A project for KidZNotes

Calling all professionals
Help us with this Donor Relations Strategy project

Pro Bono Time

25–50 hours
over 1-3 months

Details

The Triangle Corporate Battle of the Bands is the largest corporate fundraising event for charities in the Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill). The advertising firm, McKinney, founded and hosts the Battle of the Bands as an awareness building event and fundraiser for a different charity every year. The event raises an average of $60,000 in corporate sponsorships and over $100,000 in combined in-kind and cash support for charity every year.

KidZNotes has been selected as the charity recipient of the 2012 Triangle Corporate Battle of the Bands, and seeks support in creating a corporate donor relations strategy to maintain and build on our new corporate relationships developed through the Battle. We would like the Battle to serve as the kick-off for the development of a new corporate donor relations strategy to support the fundraising goals of our 3 year strategic plan. To support our growth plan, KidZNotes has goals of raising $135,000 in 2012-13 and $125,000 in 2013-14 in corporate sponsorships.

Description

In nonprofit terms, donors are our investors and our cheerleaders. They deserve to feel recognized but in the stress of running an organization, they can sometimes feel unappreciated. A great Donor Relations strategist is one part Holly Golightly and one part Felix Ungar. They’ll not only help you delight and engage your supporters but work with you to create a meticulous type A tracking system for giving history so you’re never caught short on the data.

Deliverables

  • A comprehensive donor relations strategy document of up to 10 pages with recommendations on tactics to engage donors and guidelines for measuring the success of relations efforts (i.e. retention and attrition rates).
  • Training on key aspects of donor relations strategy including donor communication, acknowledgement, appreciation and gift stewardship.
  • Guidance on developing and enhancing the strategy as the organization expands.

    • Project steps

  • Organization provides Professional with documentation of comprehensive donor history.
  • Organization and Professional meet to discuss current donor relations strategies including levels of giving, method and frequency of communication, acknowledgement, retention and attrition rates.
  • Professional assesses Organization's fundraising goals, available staff resources and budget for allocation to the Donor Relations program.
  • Based on the above, Professional develops a goal-oriented strategy recommending a program of donor relations activities and a time frame.
  • Organization and Professional engage in up to 2 rounds of review and make necessary revisions to the strategy.
  • Organization and Professional establish guidelines to measure success of efforts.
  • Professional delivers a final draft of the Donor Relations Strategy document.
  • Organization completes Catchafire’s project survey within 30 days of success.

    • Prerequisites

    Professional

    • Background in strategic consulting, communications, member engagement, or comparable relevant field.
    • Ability to create a strategic and actionable plan for donor relations and donor managament.
    • Experience with fundraising or donor management is recomended.

    Organization

    • An Executive Director and Board committed to the project.
    • A dedicated staff member willing to collaborate with the Professional and assist with legwork in order to ensure timely and successful completion.
    • An existing donor base.
    • A document with your organization’s comprehensive donor history.
    • Ability and motivation to allocate financial and staff resources to implement recommended activities.

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