2012 Checklist for Resource Development

It’s time for a resource development checkup. Here is a short checklist to get you thinking. This is not meant to be comprehensive—it’s a blog post, not a book. But, I hope your thinking will be spurred by these questions.

How’s my stewardship of all funders? Include contracting entities, foundations, and donors.

• How have I demonstrated to them our effective use of resources to improve lives and our community?
• How quickly do I acknowledge support and extend thanks?
• What evidence of positive outcomes have I gathered and shared?

Have I engaged the Board in resource development?

• Can each Board member articulate the agency mission, importance, and successes?
• Do all Board members make a gift and/or assist in obtaining financial resources?
• Does my agency facilitate Board members’ networking for the benefit of the organization by providing supportive materials, training, staffing, and opportunities?

Do the Board and funders know the true, full cost of providing programs?

• Are we able to report the cost of a program including all supportive services, space, utilities, and other infrastructure?
• Do we ask donors and other funders to provide support for the unreimbursed costs (“overhead”) that are essential to provide the program? (Very little “overhead” is not attributable to providing a program or service.)

Has the agency invested effort in individual donors and major gifts commensurate with the potential?

• Some 85 perecent of philanthropic dollars comes from individuals. Are we spending all our time on corporations and foundations?
• Do staff and board members have the training they need to be effective in this arena?

Take some time to reflect on these questions. Consult the Alliance's Fund Development Training Manual for more information on each topic. Also, watch for resource development teleconferences and webinars, free to members, for more help.