Fund
Development
Of all the services that Clemow Consulting Group offers, Fund Development is what we do most often. CCG counsels organizations on how to increase gifts to their annual fund, how to initiate major and planned giving programs, how to plan capital and endowment campaigns, how to research foundations and write grant proposals to them, and how to increase corporate sponsorship.
Annual Funds
Annual Funds are the bread and butter of an organization’s operating budget. The donations can either be solicited by direct mail, email, on websites, or by personal solicitation by staff or Board members. In most cases, the gifts can be renewable, if the donors are well-stewarded throughout the year and recognized and thanked for the contribution they have made. We help development staff become more successful in upgrading donor gifts, writing better email or direct mail appeals, making their websites more attractive for online donations and helping to convert regular donors to major donors.
Major and Planned Giving Program
CCG can help an organization identify its best prospects for major gifts and planned gifts. It can help an organization decide how to upgrade donors to a new giving level, provide training for the solicitors and teach them how to reward the donor for the increased gift and bring him/her closer to the organization. The organizations that have a well-defined mission and are donor-centric have the best chance to raise the most money.
Planned giving prospects are often the organization’s consistent donors who have been giving modest annual gifts to the organization. CCG will help you to identify your best prospects and create a program on your website, through email and direct mail to reach those individuals.
Capital and Endowment Campaign
CCG can help you to create a custom capital or endowment campaign designed for your organization’s donor base, competitive field, volunteer skills and organizational infrastructure. CCG works with your staff and Board to understand the culture of your organization, the external environment and your key stakeholders, your Board, staff, and volunteers to help you achieve your goal and create enduring relationships with your constituents.
In the past 20 years CCG has advised many campaigns, and they have always exceeded their goal. CCG has helped its clients raise over $200M in Capital Campaigns alone.
The following are provided in a Capital Campaign:
- Establishing a timeframe
- Creating a campaign cabinet
- Identifying major gift prospects
- Training of solicitors
- Volunteer and Board presentations to build enthusiasm
- Developing methods of tracking solicitations and stewardship
“Susan Clemow provided invaluable guidance to the New Britain Museum of American Art when completing our $27 million Capital Campaign, and when launching our present Fund for American Art. At critical periods, she suggested strategic moves that reinvigorated and refocused our efforts. She has a deep understanding of our community and wide-spread contacts. Susan is a seasoned professional. She is a person of enormous integrity and resourcefulness. I am most grateful to her for helping us achieve success over the last 10 years.”
Douglas Hyland
Director
New Britain Museum of American Art
“The Women & Girls’ Fund of the Main Street Community Foundation worked with Clemow Consulting to form a Development Plan to increase our endowment over the next five years. Susan’s suggestion to engage former board members allowed us to bring some great women back into the fold, and ensure the success of our project. Everyone was excited about the plan, and we are in the process of implementing it now.”
Pattie Dunn
Advisory Board Chair
Women & Girls’ Fund
Corporate Sponsorship
Many corporations give donations to an organization’s special events to increase the corporation’s visibility in the community and to link it with a credible cause. In return for the corporate donation, the non-profit promises to promote the corporation to thank them for their gift. CCG can help you access sponsorship opportunities, suggest which corporations might be a good fit for your organization and help you decide on the best staff or Board person to make the ask.