| by Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE, President
and CEO, Capital
Venture
Who Develops and Implements the Plan
Part Two
Last week we talked about the importance of the development
plan and how your organization might benefit by having one.
So, how does a busy development office find time for planning
and who will implement the plan once it's done? By involving
the right people in creating and implementing the plan, the
development office can move forward in a timely manner and
provide a framework for evaluating all of its programs.
Typically, these are the people involved in the development
planning process and in implementing the plan:
Chief Development Officer (CDO)
The CDO is the person who is responsible for implementing
the development plan, evaluating the plan's success, and
adapting the plan as needed. The CDO establishes goals for
the department and creates the development office budget.
In addition, CDOs develop the objectives and strategies to
reach these goals, and usually assign responsibilities to
those who will implement the plan.
Other Development Staff
Large development offices will often have specific personnel
responsible for areas such as planned giving, major gifts,
annual fund, alumni relations, etc. It is important that
these people take part in establishing goals for their areas
of the development plan. Support staff that will be involved
in the development plan implementation process should also
be included in the planning process.
Non-Development Staff
The CEO of the organization should be involved in setting
the goals of the development office. The CEO's role in implementing
the plan, particularly the identification, cultivation, and
solicitation of major gift prospects, will be critical to
the plan's success. The CFO might also be involved in the
plan, particularly the budget for additional staff, technology,
or other resources that will be needed to implement the plan.
Some organizations may encourage the input of other non-development
staff members, such as program coordinators or facility managers,
in the development planning process.
Board of Directors
While the board of directors is instrumental in developing
a strategic plan for nonprofit organizations, its role in
the development plan is generally minimal. In smaller organizations
without a development staff, the board may be more involved
in the development planning process. In any size organization,
however, the board's role in implementing the plan will be
critical. Like the CEO, the board will have a key role to
play in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting donors.
Development Committee
The development committee will have a larger role in the
planning process than the full board of directors. The development
committee is usually chaired by a board member; however,
it is important to expand the committee beyond the board
and involve relevant community members, especially those
with specific skills and talents, such as an estate planning
attorney, financial planner, or CPA. This committee, along
with the CDO, will play a key role in implementing the plan.
Other Volunteers
If there are other volunteers involved in the development
program, such as a parent group, auxiliary, alumni association,
planned giving committee, events committee, etc., they might
also be invited to review and provide input into the parts
of the development plan that pertain to their activities.
Consultants
A consultant is often involved in the planning process,
particularly in the assessment phase. Many organizations
engage a consultant to conduct a development audit of past
development performance before they establish goals for the
current plan. A consultant can provide an objective view
of the organization's development program and help establish
realistic goals as well as develop strategies for the plan.
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