Fundraising Readiness Assessment Step 1 of 4 0% 1 2 3 4 5 Name* First Last Organization* Email Address* Do you have a business plan that outlines how the money you hope to raise will make a significant impact?* We don’t currently have an up to date plan but know we need to raise more money for ongoing services and to meet the need. We have a plan but it’s not in writing. We have a plan in writing that addresses improving our services and how to raise more funds. We have a plan in writing that is both focused on changing the organization and the community, but we have not shared it externally or asked for feedback from the community. We have a plan in writing that is both focused on changing the organization and the community and have asked for feedback and made refinements based on that feedback. Do you have a multi-year budget that clearly shows how money will be used and how it is connected back to the proposed impact?* We have a one-year budget that we create at the end of the year for the next year. We have a multi-year budget, but it does not contain what we need to raise beyond current operating expenses. We have a multi-year budget and it includes what we need to raise above and beyond current operating expenses. We have a multi-year budget that shows our actual cost of doing business over the next three years including volunteers, in-kind and anticipated increases/capital needs. Is impact articulated in a way other than increased output (something that can be counted rather than change that will occur)?* We only track the number of individuals helped or the hours of service (outputs). We track some outcomes for some programs but not for every service. We show outcomes most of our services and when possible, we show economic the impact our work has on the community. (such as new jobs created, decreased tax dollars spent due to drop in crime, etc.) We show outcomes for the majority of our programs and consistently communicate that impact, both social and economic, to our stakeholders and donors. 1 2 3 4 5 Do you have a great reputation for making positive things happen in the community?* We are the best kept secret in town. We are known but it’s not for what we do best (people know you for one service or program but not all the work you do) We are well known and respected. We are considered one of the top 5-10 nonprofits in the area and seen as a leader of change Do you have strong leadership and experienced management?* We have a new or team/culture that needs a lot of work. We have a team that has been with the organization for a long time and does not have experience leading major change or the growth that is part of our vision. Our team is good but could improve. Our team is innovative and strong and ready to take on new challenges together. Do you have an active and diverse board that truly governs the organization, 100% give?* Let’s not talk about it……we need lots of work. We have a handful of board members that participate and some that are physically or emotionally absent. We have 100% giving but not at the level they are capable of. Some work hard and others give minimal effort. Our board is dedicated and strong and could give or raise 20% of a campaign goal. 1 2 3 4 5 Does your organization have a history of at least 1 successful leadership transition and board succession or do you have a strong succession plan if the founder is still in serving as CEO/Executive Director?* Our organization is led by the founder who donates most of their time or is not paid at a rate that most nonprofit executives in similar organizations are paid. Our founder is no longer with us and the position is still vacant or an interim is in place. Or we had a transition, but it resulted in a long vacancy or was not positive. We have had at least one transition OR we have a strong succession plan that the community is familiar with and supports. We have several successful transitions and our current leader is highly regarded as is the management team. Does your organization have financial stability including a clean audit and at least a 3-year recent history of positive revenue?* We have not had an audit, or our last audit resulted in a management letter with significant findings. Our audit was clean, but we ended one of the last two years in the red. Our audit was clean, and we ended the year just barely in the black. Our audit was clean, and we have had several years of successful fundraising, where we have been able to put money in the bank 1 2 3 4 5 Do you have a diversified base of support that includes other major donors with the potential to match support a large donor might give from other donors?* More than 80% of our funding comes from one or two sources or we rely almost exclusively on special events to keep the doors open. Most of our funding comes from government or sources that would not match a campaign or other large donation. We have a mix of funders and donors but not enough to raise the amount we would need to reach our goal. Yes, we have a large actively cultivated base of donors that are ready and willing to give. Is there enough staff and other resources to take on a major campaign and continue raising annual fund dollars?* We have no staff that are dedicated to raising money and are barely keeping up with the demands of day to day operations. We have development staff, but they are at capacity raising funds for our ongoing operations. We have staff and volunteers, but no one has the major gifts or campaign experience. We have a dedicated group of volunteers and talented staff who are solely focused on major gifts or we have the funds to hire an outside consultant. CAPTCHAEmailThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
