Transforming Fundraising: A Practical Guide To Evaluating And Strengthening Fundraising To Grow With Change

"You've got to read this book! You'll learn what to do, when to do it, and exactly how to go about it. A useful, practical tool to help any CEO or development officer position an organization for growth and success."
--Karen SAndelback, executive director, American Kidney Fund

"Candor is a missing commodity in many of today's dialogues. Judy Nichols' wisdom and sharp insights make this book a refreshing guide to honest organizational self-evaluation."
--Jeannie Thompson, fund raising consultant and member, board of directors of the International Fund Raising Group

In this practical and straightforward guide, Judith E. Nichols, an internationally renowned fundraising expert, introduces a proven method of fundraising evaluation: the Development Assessment Process. This formula will fundamentally transform the way nonprofit organizations approach evaluation and help them improve fund raising strategies to not only achieve their mission, but to keep pace with a changing world.

Nichols' revolutionary Development Assessment Process is a unique evaluation tool that combines traditional internal evaluation practices with a method for appraising shifting philanthropic and demographic trAnds. Proven successful in a wide variety of nonprofit organizations, this innovative process creates opportunities for open dialogue among audiences inside and outside the organization, encourages useful feedback, and provides practical recommAndations that can be seamlessly incorporated into current operations. Transforming Fundraising walks readers step by step through the process of evaluating current fundraising programs, assessing their potential for improvement, and planning for change.

Readers will also find a real-life, in-depth case that clearly demonstrates--from the first step through the last--how the Development Assessment Process works. Written in clear, accessible language and designed to be a hands-on guide and workbook, Transforming Fundraising is filled with easy-to-use worksheets, checklists, exhibits, and a resource guide. By using Nichols' groundbreaking Development Assessment Process, nonprofit organizations--of all sizes--will dramatically increase their fundraising results.

JUDITH E. NICHOLS has more than twenty years of experience in helping nonprofits understand the impact of changing demographics on fundraising. Her books, articles, and workshops have brought her international recognition. A development consultant, author, and certified fundraiser, Nichols is a featured columnist in Contributions magazine and editor of the newsletter Philanthropy TrAnds That Count.

Introduction: How Development Assessment Can Dramatically Increase Fundraising Results.

Part One: Understanding the Development Assessment Process.

1. What Development Assessment Is and When You Need It.

2. How to Conduct a Development Assessment: Key Components.

Part Two: Understanding Your Fundraising Environment.

3. Fundraising in a Changing World.

4. Understanding the Demographic and Philanthropic TrAnds that Drive Fundraising.

5. Realigning Fundraising Strategies to Grow with Change.

Part Three: Gathering the Information You Need.

6. Where to Look: Resources for Environmental Scanning.

7. Sample Forms for Surveying, Data Collection, and Information Recording.

Part Four: The Development Assement in Action.

8. How One Organization Used Development Assessment to Strengthen Fundraising Programs: A Case Example.