Seminars can be arranged to suit the needs of your organization. By hosting
a six hour seminar open to the community, you can reduce the costs for
your participants. These seminars typically cover the Basics of Fund Raising
for Congregations and Small Not-for-Profits, Financing the Local Church
and Grass Roots Fund Raising. Check out the Upcoming Events Page to see
where these are being scheduled.
Process: It is understood that we will work with the staff and Board to develop a six hour seminar. This would involve a two day visit to the location including the facilitation of the learning experience.
Expectations: During this time we would work with the leadership to establish guidelines for nominating individuals to the Board, job descriptions setting forth performance expectations and evaluation tools which the Board can use to review its work.
Terms: The total cost of this time will range between $200 and $450 plus expenses. Where possible, travel would be shared with other contracting organizations and housing costs could be kept to a minimum by arranging housing in private homes on a gratis basis.
Commitment: It is our commitment to make this service available to small and
moderate size not-for-profit organizations and faith communities.
Need: With an aging baby boom generation we are faced with the prospect of having a significant amount of money passing from one generation to another. Charities are in line for a large portion of this money if only they will prepare themselves and educate their donor base for the need for planned giving that will provide a source of income into the future. How does an organization begin an endowment program? What are the steps to creating an investment policy and a promotional program? How do they identify donors and invite them to make significant donations?
Process: Trustees should put in place a set of policies that will assure prospective donors that monies given to an endowment fund will both be managed wisely and provide for the long term support of the work of the organization. Once these policies are determined and an investment strategy has been put in place, an educational program needs to be mounted to challenge the groups constituency to build the endowment.
We would propose that the problem be broken into two components: the development of a policy and the establishment of a planned giving program. The first can be accomplished in three meetings with trustees or an investment committee of the trustees. The second can be planned and carried out over a year with the help of a small committee of not more than three working closely with us to implement an educational series of print pieces, brochures and seminars for the constituency. For faith communities, this means working with members to help them with their estate planning. With not-for-profits, it means identifying potential donors and setting in place a plan for education and nurture, relative to the need for an endowment. We will stay with the process for at least a year to be sure that the fund is well established.
Expectations: With a total of twelve days of on-site meetings over the twelve months of the contract, we will work with trustees, endowment/investment committees and other such groups as can be faithfully and creatively enlisted in the task. We would establish an endowment goal, an investment policy, a policy for handling bequests and plan and help carry out educational programs to begin the planned giving process among the constituency. By the end of the first year, all the pieces will be in place and the endowment have received its first gifts.
Terms: The total cost of this time will range between $750 and $1,000 plus expenses. The program would be carried out over the space of a year with twelve days committed to the organization. Where possible, travel would be shared with other contracting organizations and housing costs could be kept to a minimum by arranging housing in private homes on a gratis basis.
Commitment: It is our commitment to make this service available to small
and moderate size not-for-profit organizations and faith communities.
Need: Charitable organizations often move from program year to program year without reflecting on their existing programs. It seems easier to simply continue what has been done in the past than to take the time or energy needed to evaluate those programs in the light of the mission statement or to examine the cost/benefit ratio.
Process: It is understood that we will work with the staff and program committees to review the organization's mission statement. On the basis of that statement, we will do a critical analysis of the costs and benefits of each program. Recognizing that 'costs' and 'benefits' refers to far more that dollars, we will want to understand the service benefits and the costs in energy expended as well as the dollars.
Expectations: With at least three site visits we would meet with the leadership to clarify and update the organization's mission statement and program goals. Staff will be interviewed as well as volunteers to determine the understanding of the various constituencies. The results would be presented in a complete report with recommendations to the Board. If appropriate, we would work with the leadership to identify areas of programming that could be phased out or others which could be developed.
Terms: The total cost of this time will range between $350 and $600 plus expenses. Where possible, travel would be shared with other contracting organizations and housing costs could be kept to a minimum by arranging housing in private homes on a gratis basis.
Commitment: It is our commitment to make this service available to small
and moderate size not-for-profit organizations and faith communities.
Need: Traditionally, mission programs have not returned income in their own support. Each organization needs to evaluate its sources of income for cost/benefit and examine its circumstances for other, as yet untried pools of income.
Process: We would meet with staff and Board members for a period of three to four hours to identify a range of funding possibilities.
Expectations: Coming out of this meeting we will provide a written report identifying new sources of income, ways to make mission programs cost effective and recommendations for new budget support.
Terms: The total cost of this time will range between $100 and $350 plus expenses. Where possible, travel would be shared with other contracting organizations and housing costs could be kept to a minimum by arranging housing in private homes on a gratis basis.
Commitment: It is our commitment to make this service available to small
and moderate size not-for-profit organizations and faith communities.
Need: Faith communities and smaller not-for-profits are often in the dark as to the potential for raising special funds. Understanding how to set goals, develop campaign designs and conduct a feasibility study to determine readiness will go a long way toward successful and effective fund raising.
Process: It is understood that we will work with the staff and Board to develop an initial funding plan. At that point we will interview a sample of the organization's constituency and related community resources to determine the readiness of the organization and the support of the prospective donors. This would involve three to five site visits and a final report with recommendations. We would also help to qualify professional fund raising counsel who could be hired to conduct the campaign.
Expectations: During this time we would work with the leadership to establish a plan for a special fund raising project, survey the constituency and evaluate the readiness of the community for a special campaign. The results would be presented in a complete report with recommendations for the nature and timing of a campaign. If appropriate, we would work with the leadership to identify, qualify, solicit proposals from and eventually select a fund raising company to conduct the campaign. We would work with the organization until the decision is made whether or not to conduct the campaign.
Terms: The total cost of this time will range between $750 and $1000 plus expenses. Where possible, travel would be shared with other contracting organizations and housing costs could be kept to a minimum by arranging housing in private homes on a gratis basis.
Commitment: It is our commitment to make this service available to small
and moderate size not-for-profit organizations and faith communities.
Need: Often churches and small not-for-profits are faced with using hand-me-down computers and out of date software which is not designed for the needs of the organization. With a bit of help, both in designing a system and in recruiting money to pay for it, the office can function with 21st century technology.
Process: Evaluation of the software needs of the organization, including database, financial and word processing as well as internet concerns. Development of Requests for Proposals for both software and hardware that would fill the organizations needs. Oversight of the installation of the system and bringing the software on line.
Expectations: It is understood that we will work with the staff over a period of several months up to a year to be sure that the needs of the organization are met and the system is fully online and the staff trained.
Terms: We will commit twelve days over the course of a year. The total cost of this time will range between $750 and $1,000 plus expenses. Where possible, travel would be shared with other contracting organizations and housing costs could be kept to a minimum by arranging housing in private homes on a gratis basis.
Commitment: It is our commitment to make this service available to small
and moderate size not-for-profit organizations and faith communities.
Need: Traditionally, organizations become static in their fund raising strategic planning. Often it is helpful to infuse new ideas and excitement into the process. Using fund raising methods that have been tested over time, an organization can mix and match their approach to find new angles and strategies for generating revenue - both short term operational monies and long term investment monies.
Process: We would work with staff and Board members over a period of a year to examine the funding plan for operating funds as well as for a strategic investment program. Looking for ways to get into new pockets for support and to up-grade existing donors, we discover untapped veins of funds and creative ways of attracting those funds.
Expectations: With a total of twelve days of on-site meetings over the twelve months of the contract, we will work with stewardship/fund raising committees, trustees, endowment committees and other such groups as can be faithfully and creatively enlisted in the fund raising task. We would plan and help carry out educational programs and help establish policies on handling bequests and other invested funds.
Terms: The total cost of this time will range between $750 and $1000 plus expenses. Where possible, travel would be shared with other contracting organizations and housing costs could be kept to a minimum by arranging housing in private homes on a gratis basis.
Commitment: It is our commitment to make this service available to small
and moderate size not-for-profit organizations and faith communities.
LW Chase Associates, PO Box 146, Lowell, VT 05847
Consulting for Faith Based Communities and Not-For-Profit Organizations
Phone: 802-744-6235 or 1 800-465-1424 (access code: 00)
Fax:775-243-4621 Email: lerry@LWChase.com Web Page: LWChase.com