We recently spent an entire day sequestered in a conference room, diving into all aspects of the Brightspot business. We do this at least once a year, checking in with each other and the business we run. It’s remarkable how good it feels to have this space to think strategically, create plans for the future, and ensure we’re still aligned with what we set out to do (and take care of mundane aspects like organizing files and educating ourselves on NH tax laws).

This kind of pause is also invaluable for the organizations we work with. We’re big advocates of planning, whether it’s designing program expansion, assessing a future capital campaign, or taking time to purposefully craft your fundraising strategies. Doing these things thoughtfully may feel impossible when you’re faced with deadlines, endless meetings, and the daily demands of nonprofit life, but it’s essential to becoming a stronger organization for the long haul.

Take fundraising for example. Countless organizations are limping along with their development operations, perhaps not sure why they’re doing what they’re doing to raise money. Maybe “it has always been done that way” or a “board member wanted to throw that event.” A lot of nonprofits worry about money nonstop, but also seem to have a slate of random fundraising activities with no evidence as to whether or not those plans are working.

That sounds harsh. Trust me, I know how hard it can be to change tactics, or more to the point, allocate the necessary time to pause, assess, and strategize about improvements.

One of our favorite types of work is helping organizations with this kind of planning. We take a look at how they’re fundraising, identify the best strategies for doing it better, then work side-by-side to implement new ways to raise more. We comb through past fundraising results to learn who your donors are and what motivates them to give. We talk to your board to understand their thoughts on fundraising (and to pave the way for them to be more involved) and put all this together in a plan for how you can best increase revenue. Most importantly, though, we provide the tools, resources, and time to help you do it. We’re beside you to actually implement the new appeal calendar, design the corporate sponsorship program, and set up the donor database. 

You likely wouldn’t try to take a trip without directions and gas in your tank. Sure, you’d get there eventually, but you’d arrive faster and with a lot less stress if you take the time to pause and prepare. Development is the same. Like anything, with careful planning, thoughtful strategies, and a little bit of patience, a development plan can help transform an organization to one that has a sustainable base of support well into the future.