Fund Development Capacity Building Project

The Fund Development Capacity Building Project was generously funded by United Way of the Columbia-Willamette from 2003 through 2008. Each year 10-15 nonprofit organizations participated in an intensive year-long series that offered unique step-by-step guidance and support for board and staff to work together to create and implement new fundraising strategies, with a focus on individual donors.

The program used group exercises and tools to help participating organizations improve and clarify their message and increase the effectiveness of their communications with donors and prospective donors. Participants learned techniques for identifying new donors by leveraging the organization's current contacts and relationships. Participants also received technical assistance in developing effective systems for donor tracking and training to engage their board members in fundraising. At the end of each annual cycle, the majority of participants reported increases in donors and/or giving levels.

“The single most important benefit is the creation of a development plan that is comprehensive, accurately targeted, clearly focused, tailored to short and long term needs, and one in which all players have confidence and, there in which they can invest themselves without reservation.” -Paul Finley, Wallace Medical Concern