Although much material on nonprofits describes “development” as synonymous with fundraising, most development staff, especially in small operations, will tell you that their real responsibilities
extend from marketing to program strategy with the end being not only revenue generation, but long-term viability planning and
tracking funded initiatives.
This means that it’s not enough to decide to “go out and get the bucks.” You have to figure out whether your revenue generating activities are efficient and sustainable – especially if you’re a small operation and your time is precious.
The activities under this section all reflect different opportunities and strategies.
| | » | Earned income is revenue that accrues directly from your
program activities – such as ticket sales or course income. |
| » | Donor relations refers to activities that draw contributions from individuals and corporations through a variety of tactics such as networking, direct mail, and special events. The methods by which individuals contribute can also vary, including via simple one-time gifts, automated periodic payments, and endowment programs. |
| » | Grant Development activities are those that seek formal grants from giving foundations, corporations with a granting mechanism, and government entities through written proposals.
These proposals can range in type from simple letters of request to documents that follow involved and complex guidelines. |
| » | Special Events are typically activities that seek individual and corporate contributions while providing a community outreach component. |
Each of these revenue-generating processes requires different sets of skills – your organization and staff may be better suited for some more than others, but a little preparation, practice and experience goes a long way.