Avoiding Development Office Horrors Tips

Development offices have faced a lot of “horrors,” not just at Halloween. Anything from the CEO leaving in the middle of a capital campaign, to naming a building for a convicted felon, to having their major fundraising event of the year “snowed out.”  

1. Make sure that your organization has a strong succession plan for its CEO and Chief Development Officer.
2. Develop or revisit your gift acceptance polices especially regarding named giving opportunities. Some organizations have begun to name buildings or rooms for a limited number of years.
3. Don't rely solely on special event fundraising.
4. If you do hold a major annual event, be extremely cautious about involving local or national celebrities. Be sure that you understand all the stipulations of the celebrity and have a written contract allowing you to back out of the arrangement if some unforeseen circumstance arises.
5. Be cautious of joint events and third party events and have a written contract with any collaborating groups or organizations.
6. Be certain that everyone in your organization understands and follows the Donor Bill of Rights and the AFP Code of Ethics.
7. Consider having a professional consultant on call to help with unique situations that can haunt your development office.
8. Train your board so they understand the importance of ethical and professional fundraising strategies.
9. Make sure that all fundraising volunteers also understand the importance of ethics and the techniques of fundraising that are most effective.
10. Develop a solid Development Plan that encompasses a diversity of funding streams.