While we understand that fund raising is more an art than a science, our Planning and Feasibility Studies are designed to determine how well positioned an organization is to achieve the traditional standards and hallmarks associated with successful campaign programs. Through these studies we uncover ways and means to lead organizations to success, even when the challenges may appear daunting or ambitious.

As Sherlock Holmes would carefully analyze data and then deduce logical conclusions, we bring tenacity, creative thinking, imagination and the knowledge of our cumulative years of experience to each specific assignment, regardless of size and circumstances.

We believe that this approach is fundamental in showing the way to achieve fund raising success. Specifically, our process involves a series of steps that are significant in building a formula or road map for achievement, including:

• personal, face-to-face interviews;
• one-on-one telephone interviews;
• informational discussions with volunteers and staff;
• small group discussions;
• preliminary research on foundations and other potential funding organizations;
• a review of an organization’s fund raising plans and historic patterns of support;
• an assessment of recent and anticipated significant fund raising activities in the area and with similar projects in the same program field.

A careful, systematic approach to these steps enables us to best assess interest and attitudes toward the proposed fund raising effort. Devoting time to preparation and research can reveal strengths and constraints that could have a significant impact on fund raising potential. It also helps us to ascertain how well an organization is positioned to conduct a capital campaign and what it must do in order to achieve success.

Chances are, in a given situation, we’ve seen a similar challenge in our 16 years of experience as a firm. We leverage that experience and the insights gained from it to professionally assess the needs of a particular organization, and to navigate that specific nonprofit group in the direction most likely to lead to achievement of its objectives.

In those cases when our studies suggest that the timing, donor receptivity structure or goal of a given project is not ideal, we provide alternatives that assist clients with their specific development needs.