Foundation Center's List: Fundraising Planning

Produced by fundraising professionals Andrea Kihlstedt and Brian Saber, Asking Matters addresses the challenge of helping board members feel comfortable and prepared in asking for gifts, by providing tools based on the concept of personal Asking Styles.

Sample endowment agreement for an individual donor.

Five common mistakes that cause board members to back off when they should be pitching in. This article by Gail Perry is the first in a five-part series on helping board members embrace fundraising.

Are board giving requirements a best practice or a bad idea? Editor Jan Masaoka reports on trends and explores the debate. Published Sept. 2009.

Explains how the board's role in financial accountability is related to its involvement in fundraising. Emphasizes the need for setting clear expectations regarding the board's responsibilities in fundraising.

BoardSource (formerly the National Center for Nonprofit Boards) "is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations by strengthening their boards of directors."

This material on Case for Support and Case Statements is excerpted from The AFP Ready Reference Series booklet entitled Getting Ready For a Capital Campaign: Your Blueprint for Evaluating Internal and External Readiness.

Case statements are useful for everything from capital campaigns, annual appeals and grant writing.

The Association for Fundraising Professionals (AFP) defines the case as "the reasons why an organization both needs and merits philanthropic support, usually by outlining the organization's programs, current needs, and plans."

The following is a case statement used in the Shasta Community Health Center (a FQHC) capital campaign that raised $4.4 million for a new building.

To help you tell your story, it is best to put your knowledge into a formal case statement.

Jeorld Panas, Linzey, & Partners' document explains the role of the Case. It may surprise you to learn that the overriding objective is not to have the material read. That’s essential, of course. But the Case’s overriding responsibility is to move the reader to action. That’s what it’s all about.

Every fundraising campaign has the Case Statement at its center. It is the core document that sits at the center of your plan and strategy.

This publication provides best practices and tools for managers of environmental and conservation nonprofits in our challenging economic times. Learn how to track your finances, recognize danger signals, assess your options, and, make tough decisions fair

Explains how nonprofits can lead a strong fundraising campaign in the midst of a weak economy.

A tumultuous economy can present unique challenges for nonprofit fundraising. AFP has compiled a toolkit of resources to advise and guide fundraisers in tough economic times.

List of 20 emergency funding ideas, revenue sources that can be accessed quickly, usually within 30 days. Note that not all of these sources are available to all nonprofits, and some of them carry great risk.
List of revenue sources that can be accessed quickly, usually within 30 days. Note that not all of these sources are available to all nonprofits, and some of them carry great risk. NOTE: This is an archived version of the original page.

Use this tool for a quick assessment of risk in four essential areas for nonprofit organizations. The rating and guidance provided will help to start discussions, set priorities, and focus attention as nonprofits develop plans to weather the recession. This assessment is a starting point developed to indicate the level of urgency and priority. It cannot take the place of a comprehensive organizational review or in-depth analysis of financial trends and forecasts.

We've compiled the following resources to help you frame the issues, find facts and trends, consider options, and arrive at the best strategies for your organization and mission. NOTE: This is an archived version of the original page.

Wendy Stewart, Senior Vice President and Senior Client Manager at Bank of America and Rachel Epps Spears, Executive Director, Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta discuss financial recordkeeping and reporting, investment policies, and internal controls to help nonprofits remain financially fit. Running time: 1:20:12. Presented August 5, 2009.