Because we provide PR services to our clients, I was recently asked if Project Partners had aided a local nonprofit which had been struggling with fundraising issues. This organization was receiving some media attention and it turned out that they had enlisted an agency with no fundraising expertise to help them out of their slump.
When working to obtain foundation and corporate financial support, building a relationship with the prospective grant maker is half of the work. This is essential, especially if you are applying online, which has become standard. If you haven't created a relationship, it is likely your application won't get more than a glance during the review process, no matter how good it is.
Too many times, I see boxes of beautiful collateral materials for events, marketing, outreach or fundraising campaigns happily living on the floors of agency storage rooms and offices. Thousands of dollars worth of materials never see the light of day. Are they helping to move the organization's mission forward?
I regularly work with nonprofit executives and community leaders to advance important community causes. I'm hearing a universal theme--that each organization is stretched, with too much to do and not enough time to do it. From my perspective, I see a need to go "back to the basics" from an organizational standpoint.
It's no secret that nonprofit staff turnover can be high, especially in development positions. I see this regularly when Project Partners is called upon to pick up where a former staff member left off on a critical event, fundraising campaign, or community initiative.
