Services

Development Audits

What, specifically, is examined during a Bentz Whaley Flessner development audit?

We customize the scope and approach to each audit, based on a thorough understanding of each client’s mission, vision, and culture. Areas we can examine include the following.

Assessment Areas Details
Budget
  • Revenue and expense trends for the last five years.
  • Budget and financial projections for upcoming years and requirements for private support.
  • Institutional plans for the next five to ten years and their implications for private fundraising.
Institutional Issues
  • Institution’s identity and mission.
  • Critical challenges in the institution’s history.
  • Unique position and experience of the institution.
Cohesiveness, Understanding, and Experience
  • Existing degree of consensus about the mission and directions of the institution.
  • Understanding the fundraising process by key leaders and staff.
  • Experiences during recent and past campaigns.
Board Infrastructure
  • Board leadership.
  • Board Recruitment and selection process.
  • Roles, expectations, and board committee structures.
Board Activity/ Relationships
  • Board members’ involvement and effectiveness in fundraising.
  • Board’s engagement in planning.
  • Board Committee structures and dynamics.
Chief Development Officers, Major Gift Officers, External Relations, and Other Fundraising Staff
  • Positions and staff.
  • Experience and capabilities.
  • Perceived needs.
Goals, Objectives, and Performance
  • Procedures for establishing goals and objectives.
  • Ways to measure and evaluate progress.
  • Communicating performance results.
Information Systems and Operations
  • Gift-receipting and gift acknowledgement procedures.
  • Fundraising and capital campaign reports.
  • Record-keeping systems.
Donor Levels and Recognition Programs
  • Number of donors and levels of giving.
  • Constituency size, location, and age distribution.
  • Donor cultivation and donor recognition programs.
Benchmarking and Best Practices
  • Comparative trends among other, similar institutions.
  • Applying fundraising best practices.
  • Board development.
Marketing to Ensure Fundraising Success
  • Public relations and communications.
  • Strategies for reaching target audiences.
  • E-communications and publications.
Prospect Development
  • Prospect identification and qualification.
  • Prospect research.
  • Prospect management.
 

Learn more about a Bentz Whaley Flessner development audit.



BWF Services


  • Development Dialogues Fall 2008 Seminar
    September 10, 2008
    > Read More
  • AFP Web/Audioconference
    September 4, 2008
    > Read More
  • Fund Raising at the Speed of Twitter
    August 29, 2008
    > Read More
  • The Ranks of the Ultrawealthy Grow
    August 29, 2008
    > Read More
  • Disney Children's Hospital at Florida Hospital will be Model for Pediatric Care Nationwide
    August 29, 2008
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Expertise
 DonorCast Analytics
DonorCast Custom analytics for nonprofit fundraising organizations.

Books and Articles
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A Kaleidoscope of Prospect Development, by Bobbie J. Strand.
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Fundraising Analytics: Using Data to Guide Strategy, by Joshua Birkholz.
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Podcasts
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