Your organization’s mission is more than a statement. In fact, stop calling it a statement. Your mission should not describe the organization, rather it defines the results the organization seeks to achieve.

How you operationalize your gift processing will depend on your staff and database system. There are best practices around separation of duties when documenting money and how quickly you send out a formal acknowledgment letter. The document above will outline all these considerations.

Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To assure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights

The core values of your organization are the boundaries in which must exist. These are the beliefs you hold most dear. The absolute truths for your organization.

Example Mission Statements

Board members and employees are prohibited from receiving gifts, fees, loans, or favors from suppliers, contractors, consultants, or financial agencies, which obligate or induce the board member or employee to compromise responsibilities to negotiate, inspect or audit, purchase, or award contracts with the best interest of __[org]__ in mind.

Having a code of ethics can help inform board members of expectations and give you the grounding to accountability. This is a great sample to get you started in shaping your own code of ethics for your organization. Have members sign this at the start of their term and review it on an annual or quarterly basis when you gather.

The Governing Board is a single body that only has authority as a whole. No individual member, regardless of position or title, has individual authority outside of the Governing Board meetings. After decisions are made, the Governing Board speaks as one body, not as individuals.

Using a gift intent card or form can help provide clarity from the donor about their wishes. It can help the organization plan their budget, and it helps maintain institutional knowledge. Here is a sample you can download and adapt for your own organization.

The next step in your strategic planning work is to form the actionable portion of your plan. The leveling of the plan from the Macro through the Micro, will help you to better communicate the plan to constituents, and better manage the plan internally. We suggest the plan have three levels.

Since 2007, small businesses have enjoyed a tax benefit which was passed by congress to stimulate the economy. Purchased equipment and vehicles have mostly been depreciated for tax purposes. What happens when these assets are sold or the business is transitioned to new ownership? The short answer is, they are taxed. Many of these small businesses are owned by some of your donors. At this roundtable, we will discuss ways donors can use the benefits of making gifts to your organization with these assets, in a very tax-wise way.

As you enter this portion of the work, here are a couple of key strategies to remember.

Strategic Planning is cyclical, there are seasons of Visioning, planning, and assessment. Good plans build continual assessment into the plan.

2) Leadership people . . . people who have their fingers on the pulse of the communities, businesses, churches.

3) People of influence who may not have financial resources or be able to give but are able to influence others and their gifts (i.e. “opinion makers”)

Fundraising ventures are most always undertaken with one central focus – to meet the financial goal of the effort and thereby meet the needs of the organization or agency that are dependent on the receipt of charitable gifts. The greater the financial need and the proposed goal to meet it, the higher the stakes for success and, possibly the higher the degree of uncertainty regarding the viability of the goal. A feasibility/readiness study (herein referred to as “feasibility study) has as its primary goal to determine potential to meet the proposed financial goal.