Betty Ann Copley Harris

Part of the The AFP Fund Development Series, “The Fundraising Feasibility Study: It’s Not About the Money” provides an insider look at what many nonprofit development staff often feel is an important but elusive part of campaign planning: the feasibility study. Edited by Martin L. Novom, it contains insights from some of the most well-known names in philanthropy, who define the concept of a feasibility study, outline the multifaceted reasons behind doing one and detail the intricacies of the entire process. Among the contributors are Betty Ann Copley Harris, Linda Lysakowski, Tony Myers and Simone Joyaux. Chapters include “Stepping Up to the Challenge

Do you yearn to work in a development office where professional staff members are considered among the best in their field; where the entire staff works as a team to exceed program goals year after year; where no silos exist and everyone gets along famously; and where it’s rewarding and fun to go to work every day?

Of course you do. Who doesn’t? To make this ideal scenario a reality, you have to start with the team you already have in place.

The 2004 Association of Fundraising Professionals’ annual survey cited two important trends. First: Large organizations once again outperformed smaller organizations in fundraising — no surprise there. Second: Major gifts and planned gifts are on the rise.

More than 80 percent of AFP’s 3,000 survey respondents said they expect revenue from major gifts and planned giving to remain strong or increase in 2005, while casting direct mail as essentially flat.

I have come to believe that those who contribute the most to the leadership in our profession, as well as achieve the greatest success raising funds for their organizations, are those people who were mentored and inspired by other development professionals.

For the past 27 years, I’ve been recruiting senior-level development professionals and training younger, aspiring individuals to be fundraising consultants and executive recruiters in the nonprofit world.

In all my years of consulting with nonprofit leaders and their boards, I’ve learned that finding and holding on to great talent is no easy feat, yet it’s one of the most pivotal factors contributing to an organization’s success in fundraising.