The Power of Planning: Building a Strategic and Long-Term Development Plan

Fund Development should be a core function of your organization and of your organization’s long term strategic goals. Yet, we often focus our development planning on the short term, e.g. the Annual Development Plan. And while we typically begin to plan for the next year based on the previous year’s projected results, we don’t often look at development planning through a strategic and long-term focus. Where do we want to be in 3-5 years with our fund development program? How does this dove-tail with where our organization is going? This session will cover how to make that mental and planning shift in our thinking from year-to-year to longer term outcomes and grow philanthropic revenue.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, participants will:

• Be familiar with the various types of plans and different planning processes.
• Understand why and how to align a long term fund development plan with the organization’s strategic goals
• Identify ways to lead the planning shift, through 14 key steps, that engage others and create longer term thinking throughout the organization for even greater results.

Target Audience:

Mid to senior level fundraisers who have responsibility for or participation in creating their development plan. Executive Directors and Board Members will also benefit from this session.

About the Presenter:

Andrea McManus, CFRE is known for her passionate believe in philanthropy and the value of the nonprofit sector in Canadian society. She is President of The Development Group in Calgary and works for clients throughout Canada and the Caribbean.

Original Program Date: April 23, 2013