Annual Giving Program Audits
and Program Planning
Robert Burdenski Annual Giving offers a systematic annual giving program audit process that considers past results and future opportunities, informed by current trends and emerging best practice fundraising strategies.
Although structured, the audit process is not one-size-fits-all. The characteristics of an institution, including its philanthropic history, culture, constituent audiences and other elements all impact the shape of an annual giving program and the shape of an annual giving audit.
The annual giving audit commonly follows this process:
- Program
Review: A brief program review acquaints us with the institution’s
current and previous fundraising programs and results. The program review includes...
- An advance review of materials and data related to programs and prior
annual giving fundraising initiatives and results, with a materials request
list provided to the institution prior to discussions with staff.
- On-site
interviews with institution staff. In
our conversations we seek to acquaint ourselves with the institution, its development
and external relations functions and its annual giving program.
- An
intensive review and discussion of annual giving plans and strategies for
the coming year(s). We explore potential
fundraising activities and discuss program
alternatives, models and best practices from comparable institutions.
- Program Observations, Examples and
Recommendations: Based on the information
gathered from the above activities and experience with comparable institutions,
we prepare and present a report with observations and recommendations for quantitative enhancement of
the annual giving program. The report
will include sections on:
- Observations from the program review,
including the materials review, annual giving report data, and staff conversations;
- Best practice examples from other
institutions;
- Specific recommendations for program
enhancement in support of annual giving fundraising goals;
- A
suggested work plan and program calendar with short, intermediate and long-term action items.
-
Program
Implementation Assistance (optional): Depending upon the specific action elements the institution seeks to implement in its annual giving program (and related advancement offices), we would be pleased to provide start-up assistance with any initiatives
identified. This might include
help with new programs or enhancement of existing programs.
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