The development plan is a report that both organizes and keeps on track the nonprofit organization's journey on a month to month basis.
The plan determines if we have funds for all projects and programs as well as general operating expenses. The grants are listed by priority and chronological need making it a schedule as well as a budget tool.
The parts of the development plan are listed:
Funding Source - Who we plan to request funds from monthly based on our research.
Project or program - Which area in the organization that the potential funding applies. This column usually ties the potential funding to the itemized budget.
Grant Dates - These are deadlines for submitting proposals.
Requested amount - Here is the amount and type of grant we are requesting.
The development plan also includes all fundraising efforts so that they are distributed according to the budget which is generally approved by the organizations Board of Directors. The plan is a full listing of all potential contributors, both individuals and grants. Also any fundraising events or sales of products or services would also be listed.
The development plan is usually not generated or given much merit by the accountants because it is projected and therefore not cast in stone but more like blue sky type information. Because development plans are not given much merit small nonprofits fail at their fundraising efforts due in part to no planning. Were there is no structure there is chaos!
The information is generally relied on by managers and staff of the organization to help with integration and planning based on the success of the funding efforts. By studying the plan we can determine if we forgot to fund certain areas in the budgeting process. We can therefore do more research to fill the gaps in our budget leading to a smooth operation throughout the year.
The development plan is a tool that generally is developed, adjusted and relied on to help guide the whole organization through the maze of nonprofit management. The plan helps to review the funding percentage and how we might improve it or at the least were we need improvement in our fundraising activities. Lots of fundraising programs are evaluated and dealt with efficiently throughout the year based in part on this plan.
Each month a developmental report is prepared which gives the actual list of all contributors and source of funds based on the development plan. This allows everyone from the board of directors down to the staff to assess their fundraising activities and gives everyone some always much needed enthusiasm.
All nonprofit organizations will benefit from a dynamic development plan that encourages, corrects and adds enthusiasm to their fundraising activities. The plan will in fact be a tool that allows funders, board members, staff and volunteers alike to see their fundraising effort is improving each year so they can make appropriate funding decisions.
If this tool is used appropriately the organization will be professional as well as successful in there fundraising efforts.
Kirby Rooks
For more information on grant writing, volunteering and nonprofit organizations visit Grant Funding Online Blog at http://www.grantfundingonline.com/blog
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