• The goal for my development office is unrealistic! It is reasonable to expect us to make up the difference between our budgeted expenses and earned income?
• Our Board of Directors just don’t get it! How do I get them to take ownership in bringing in financial resources?

Income or Fund Development Plans are a roadmap, providing direction and focus for the work of a development office as well as earned income potential for 12-36 months.

An income/fund development plan is a valuable tool in recognizing where our funds come from and how much. It will identify funding targets and strategies to meet the first 12 month goals. From that, the organization knows what the next goals are, and can adjust the strategies to meet them. At the same time, realistic projections about likely levels of income can be forwarded to the organization’s leaders for the budgeting process.

We believe that having multiple sources of income (even as many as 12-15 different ones) strengthens the nonprofit and avoids a calamity when one source is lost.

To develop a comprehensive income/fund development plan, the McDonald Schaefer Group works closely with the organization’s fund development staff and volunteer leadership. A review of the past years’ funding sources, successful and unsuccessful strategies used, and staff, volunteer and monetary resources available, is part of the process. An important component of developing a plan is working with the Board of Directors in an educational meeting to identify specific components of the plan. But, more importantly, this process helps the Board to recognize their role in securing financial resources. Strategies are developed collaboratively that are aggressive without being unrealistic. Strategies, targeted constituencies, and responsibilities with timelines are identified to move the Development Office forward. The plan will project reasonable financial goals for the development office, and an analysis of the human resources that will be required.