Chapter 10: The Development Journey
IN THIS LESSON
Your First Step—Beginning Your Development Journey
You've now completed our introductory program on professional fundraising. We've explored the bedrock of a successful development program and a roadmap for long-term growth. We started by challenging the traditional view of fundraising and ended with a look at how to build a powerful, resilient ecosystem of support. The knowledge is now yours, but the real journey begins with a single step.
Recapping the Journey
Let's take a moment to look back at the path we've traveled:
Your Mission is Your Story: We learned that your case statement is the most important document you can create. It's not a plea for money but a powerful, data-driven narrative that tells the world who you are and why you matter.
Data is Your Playbook: You now know that a successful fundraising program is built on a solid foundation of data. A CRM system helps you track relationships, measure impact, and make informed decisions.
Leadership is the Foundation: We discovered that fundraising is a team sport, and it requires a committed, educated leadership team—from the board to the staff—who are all dedicated to championing the mission.
The Clubhouse of Development: You now have an understanding of the various tools in your fundraising toolkit, from the broad-based support of annual giving to the intimate relationships of major gifts and the strategic partnerships with foundations, corporations, and governments.
Prioritizing for Success
Fundraising is not a one-and-done activity; it's a decision to shift your organization's culture and, once you start, the goal should be to never stop. But if you have limited time and resources, it's critical to prioritize. We at COGEO recommend that you do all of the preparatory work outlined in our first few lessons, and then focus your initial efforts on major gifts. This area typically provides the greatest return on investment for your time, brings your community closer to your organization, and those individuals will become, if stewarded and asked correctly, your best connectors into other areas of funding.