A unique approach to fund-raising and project management with proven results!
Feasibility Studies
Before embarking on a capital campaign, we conduct a comprehensive feasibility study. Extensive interviews provide for a thorough and accurate analysis of a client’s constituency as well as enable us to establish realistic expectations for a campaign. Most feasibility studies require interviewing 100-plus constituents, and for university clients we add an online survey to broaden the interviewee pool.
A feasibility study is an objective survey, usually conducted by fund-raising counsel, of an organization’s fund-raising potential. The main purpose of a feasibility study is to provide an accurate assessment of the factors, which might affect a capital campaign, and to evaluate both internal readiness and external opportunities available to successfully complete a capital campaign. A study conducted by JFSG assesses the constituency’s perceptions of the organization’s programs and staff, the strength of the organization’s case for support, and the availability of prospective donors. J.F. Smith then provides its clients with a written report that includes the study’s findings, analysis and recommendations.
Campaign Management
We believe success cannot be assured without our associates being integrally involved with the client, its community and campaign. Our staff-driven approach to fund-raising puts the leadership and responsibility of the campaign in the hands of our associates and the client’s key development players. Fund-raising skills are imparted to the client’s staff by walking hand-in-hand throughout the entire project. This process not only ensures a successful campaign, but leaves in its wake a well-defined fund-raising program.
Campaigns are an intensive fund-raising effort to meet a specific financial goal within a specified period of time for one or more major projects that are out of the ordinary, such as the construction of a facility, the purchase of equipment, or the acquisition of endowment. JFSG provides its clients with an on-site project manager, as well as additional campaign support staff, who help the organization manage every phase of a capital campaign, including: train the staff and volunteers in proven fund-raising techniques; develop reporting systems and printed materials; identify and strategize prospective major donors; and assist in the solicitation of campaign gifts.
Development Training
A “do it yourself” attitude is great for some tasks, but when it comes to serious fund-raising, a professional approach is a must. With the increasing competition for the charitable dollar, your organization cannot afford to take an amateur approach. Fund-raising development training is a specialized program designed to equip individuals and organizations with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively raise funds for various causes and initiatives.
JFSG provides customized on-site development training based on the needs of the organization. When the on-site training is complete, personnel will understand:
How to utilize the basic principles of fund-raising
How to establish a successful development infrastructure
How to identify potential donors
How to evaluate gift capability
How to determine donor interest and encourage involvement
How to prepare a case for support and solicitation proposal
How to conduct a successful solicitation visit and follow up effectively.
How to make a capital campaign succeed through campaign management
Ultimately, development training empowers participants to secure vital financial resources, enabling them to support their missions and make a meaningful impact in their communities or within their organization.
Advancement Assessments
The foundation of any successful development effort is a solid, organized infrastructure. The J.F Smith Group’s purpose in conducting an advancement assessment is to evaluate past practices, present opportunities and campaign readiness to meet future fund-raising goals.
For a fund-raising program to be successful, it must be well-organized and well-managed, both internally and externally. Too often institutions devote most of their time and attention to external preparedness while doing little or nothing to address internal conditions. An assessment is conducted by an independent facilitator who gathers both objective and subjective data by observing and interviewing as well as by reviewing institutional reports. This information is then analyzed to produce an assessment of the institution’s fund-raising program.
Donor Screening
The J.F. Smith Group is committed to empowering your organization through comprehensive prospect screening. Leveraging the power of DonorSearch.net, we will meticulously analyze names from your database. This screening serves as a pivotal step in unearthing the underlying potential for major gifts within your campaign while laying the foundation for future fund-raising strategies.
The screening will return a ranked list of your constituents who have been the most philanthropic, and an analysis will summarize your constituents’ significant giving to other organizations. This screening will uncover individuals who may not currently be on your organization’s radar. It will assist in the identification of prospects that have the capability to give, and with cultivation from your end, you can turn these capable prospects into donors with an inclination to give to your organization.
Prospect donor screening holds paramount importance in the field of philanthropy and charitable giving. This meticulous process not only safeguards the integrity of the organization but also fosters mutually beneficial relationships, promoting a sustainable and impactful approach to philanthropy that can positively transform communities and causes for generations to come.