Gina Crocetti Benesh

I extend my deepest apologies to all of you over the age of 40 who now will have that stupid “Brady Bunch” song stuck in your heads all week. (If you’re younger and have no idea how it goes, count your blessings.)

That said … the song, obviously, is about change. And so, perhaps less obviously, is this special section, “Big Ideas for Smaller Nonprofits.” 

At some point, smaller organizations have to decide whether to stay small or grow. In order to grow, there usually needs to be an increased investment in development.

But how can you tell if that time is now? Here’s a checklist to help you determine if your organization is ready to ramp up its fundraising efforts — either to expand its services or simply to bring in more funding to support existing programs — and what to do if it is.