Jimmy's Blog

Definition of Development

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:54:00 GMT

Case Statement Components

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:05:00 GMT

A compelling Case Statement should include the following items.

A. History/Mission
    1. Founder's Story
    2. Initial Vision/Statement of Mission
    3. Initial Service Opportunities
    4. Milestones with Dates
    5. Facilities Growth

B. People/Leadership
    1. Founders
    2. President/Executive Director
    3. Vice-Presidents/Directors

C. Services/Product
    1. Markets Served
    2. Outline of specific services
    3. How you make a difference
    4. Individual Testimonies

D. Finances/Stewardship
    1. Annual Budget
    2. Expenses/Income
    3. Word from the Treasurer

E. Distinction/Uniqueness
How is your organization uniquely qualified to serve the community? Are there other organizations with a similar mission? If so, what is different about yours?

F. Future Vision
Where is the organization going to be in ten years? What are the elements of the strategic plan that show a donor that the administration has positioned the organization to meet the expanding needs of the community? Donors making large investments want to know the ways in which the institution will remain significantly productive in the next decade.

G. Immediate Investment Opportunity
What is phase one of the future vision? What gift giving opportunities are going to be extended to investors in the next twenty-four months?

Still wondering how to make sense of Case Statements and make them compelling. Check out our website www.ndievents.com and join us at one of our conferences.

Case Documents

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:21:00 GMT

Last week in Nashville, TN we held a Major Gifts Conference. One of the main points was that every organization needs a Case Document.

So today we have 6 points that tell us How Case Statements are Used:

A. A case statement enables donors, staff, board members, etc. to provide feedback which in turn creates ownership.
B. A case statement assists a non-profit in recruiting volunteer donors to advocate on behalf of the charitable agency for the program/project/annual fund/capital campaign to be implemented.
C. A case statement allows the development team to measure support or test the market before going public with a campaign.
D. A case statement establishes a basis for all other campaign materials (e.g.: campaign newsletter, press releases, gift prospectus, direct mail, brochures, etc.).
E. A case statement is used to demonstrate that the agency is solid, knows where it's headed, and understands the scope of their campaign.
F. Ultimately, a case statement is used to motivate individuals to participate in three different ways: with their finances, by advocating, and by volunteering.

Tomorrow we will review the important components of a case statement.

Faith Farm with Jimmy LaRose & Dean Webb

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:46:00 GMT

A new video of Jimmy LaRose with Faith Farm.

This is a great way to gain exposure for your mission and organization.

Thank You

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:37:00 GMT

Have you said "Thank You" to your donors lately?

What is the best way to say thank you?

We believe that part of being "Donor Centric" is telling your donors thank you and checking in with them to see how they are doing.

A hand written note or a phone call is a great opportunity for you to say thank you and find out how they are doing.

One phone call a day or one hand written thank you note a day would be a good goal.

What if you have a large donor base and that does not seem realistic?

Try writing a few notes a month or making a few calls a month.

Telling our donors thank you and checking to make sure they are having a good day is something very small but makes a BIG impact.

Major Gifts Startup

Thu, 27 May 2010 14:32:00 GMT

What type of organization do you have?

We are reminded to not only serve and live out our mission but to be "Donor Driven" as well. What does that mean? How do we achieve this?

From the FIRMware drive Major Gifts 6-Major Gifts Startup.

Major Gifts Startup ‐ DSI Client v1.2

#1 ESTABLISH DONOR‐DRIVEN PHILOSOPHY

Technique Driven
‐ Awareness Events, Galas, Tournaments, Direct Mail, Newsletters, Phone Campaigns, etc. We use technique but our philosophy of development is not technique‐driven.

Institution Driven
‐ We're making a difference...We're a good steward of donor finances...This organization is a safe place to invest. We must "make the case" but our philosophy of development cannot be institution‐driven.

Donor Driven
‐ How can we help the donor accomplish the personal goals to which they've been called by walking along side, co‐laboring with, investing in, becoming part of our organization. What are their interests? What constructs in their lives cross with the constructs emerging from our organization. It is at that nexus that development occurs.

Again, what type of organization do you have? What type of organization should you have? How can you become "Donor Driven"?

For more information about the conferences that we offer go to www.ndievents.com.

Major Gifts Systematic Development

Tue, 25 May 2010 15:29:00 GMT

This week we are focusing on Major Gifts and today we want to give you some "food for thought" about systematic development and DSI's model.

This information comes from our FIRMware drive and is titled Major Gifts 4 Systematic Development.

The philosophical foundation for an effective development system is critical to its implementation. DSI’s donor driven philosophy of development is as follow:

“How can we help a donor achieve their personal stewardship goals by participating

    philanthropically with our organization?

    What tasks must we then adhere to so as to put into place a system that builds meaningful

relationships with existing friends and potential supporters?”

To learn more about Major Gifts you can visit www.development.net. More importantly give these questions some thought in terms of your organization, how would you answer them? How can we assist you?

Major Donor Origination

Mon, 24 May 2010 20:42:00 GMT

Click the video below to view Jimmy LaRose and Todd Isberner discussing the correct way to originate new major donors, from both the listening audience and the local community.

If you would like to ask questions please do so by responding to the post.

Certified Nonprofit Consultant

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:43:00 GMT

Hello nonprofit friends and family. Welcome to SuperConsulting and the Consultant's Ethic...the personal advancement blog of Jimmy LaRose.

I'm Jimmy and my goal is to help nonprofit consultants succeed as they serve the charitable sector. My heroes are those men and women who lay down their life on a daily basis to help others.

So let's start there...SERVICE...it's no small thing for a nonprofit to commit to a consulting contract. There are all sorts of expectations and hope for measurable improvement. Soooo...

...I ask myself everyday what have a done this week to provide my clients the comfort they need to move forward and realize thier goals? WHAT HAVE I DONE?...is the better question.

I'm about to give you platinum...here is an immutable truth…

There is a particular moment every thirty days when your client asks themselves a question…

…the query is about you…their Counselor.

…this confrontation is cyclic and occurs each time they sign our retainer check.

The questions goes something like this…

“Did Jimmy really provide me $4800 worth of service this month?”

Let me share with you a second immutable truth…

There is an exercise you can engage in that compels your client to answer the aforementioned question in the affirmative. Though this exercise is a simple one, it is effective, and makes all the difference in how your client feels about your service. Here it is…

“Making one phone call a week to your client is a critical courtesy that sustains the relationship.”

The monthly onsite visit is not sufficient to fulfill practically or contractually the service which the client has purchased from you. Though there are many different aspects to effective client service, the small investment you make in regular contact will give you the highest return.

Nonprofit clients are spending significant and precious dollars with you. When an executive director has their check writing moment, consistent communication with their counselor gives them permission to sign that check with confidence.

Thanks for hearing my heart on this issue. It will meaningfully contribute to your success.

Get Started

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

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