Development Assistant Goals and Objectives Examples
Create and implement a fundraising plan that effectively targets individual donors, foundations, and corporations.
Develop and maintain positive relationships with current and potential sponsors.
Work with the development team to identify and cultivate new funding sources.
Develop and manage a grant proposal calendar.
Write compelling grant proposals that meet funders' guidelines and requirements.
Ensure accurate tracking and reporting of grants received and their expenditure.
Create and execute a plan for donor recognition and stewardship activities.
Manage database entry and updating for all donations, pledges, contacts, and activities.
Produce regular reports on donor activity and fundraising efforts.
Identify opportunities for in-kind donations and collaborations with other organizations.
Collaborate with program staff to document success stories, program outcomes, and impact data for fundraising purposes.
Assist with the planning and execution of special events, including fundraising galas, donor cultivation events, and community outreach activities.
Develop and manage donor communication strategies, including newsletters, emails, social media posts, and direct mail appeals.
Manage all aspects of the annual giving campaign, including solicitation letters, donor acknowledgments, and follow-up calls.
Research emerging trends in philanthropy and adapt fundraising strategies accordingly.
Build a robust network of community leaders who can provide advocacy and support for the organization's mission.
Maintain ongoing knowledge of the organization's programs, services, policies, and procedures.
Participate in regular professional development opportunities to enhance job skills.
Collaborate with accounting staff to ensure accurate financial record-keeping for all donations and expenses.
Contribute to the development of the annual budget and monitor revenue and expenses throughout the year.
Demonstrate a high level of customer service when interacting with donors, volunteers, staff members, and board members.
Attend board meetings and provide updates on fundraising progress as required.
Create targeted prospect lists for major gifts and planned giving programs.
Assist with the preparation of presentations for major gift prospects and planned giving donors.
Conduct research on prospective donors to identify their wealth indicators, philanthropic interests, giving history, and any potential connections to the organization.
Participate in donor meetings and solicitations alongside senior development officers or executive leadership as appropriate.
Develop creative ways to engage donors in the organization's mission, such as customized thank-you letters, personalized videos, or site visits.
Create a pipeline of potential donors by identifying new prospects through networking events, board connections, or other sources.
Monitor donor retention rates and create strategies for improving retention over time.
Train and supervise volunteers who assist with fundraising events or other development activities.
Work with marketing staff to ensure consistent messaging across all donor communications.
Plan and execute virtual or hybrid fundraising events in response to changing needs or external circumstances.
Analyze donor behavior data to identify patterns or trends that may inform future fundraising strategies.
Develop a comprehensive bequest program that encourages long-term giving commitments from donors.
Coordinate planned giving seminars or workshops for interested donors or advisors.
Develop a system for tracking bequest intentions and working with estate planning attorneys to facilitate the execution of gifts upon donors' deaths.
Collaborate with program staff to identify areas of need that may be funded through legacy gifts, such as capital improvements or endowment support.
Build relationships with professional advisors who work with high-net-worth individuals (e.g., attorneys, financial planners) to facilitate referrals or introductions to potential donors.
Conduct prospect research on institutional donors, including corporations and foundations, to identify grant opportunities that align with the organization's mission and priorities.
Build relationships with foundation program officers and corporate giving representatives through regular communication and stewardship activities.
Develop proposals for institutional funders that align with their priorities and articulate how the organization's work meets their goals.
Create a system for tracking grant deadlines, submitting timely applications, and monitoring reports for awarded grants.
Plan site visits or phone interviews with funders to showcase the organization's work firsthand and answer questions about our impact or outcomes.
Seek out matching gift opportunities that may increase fundraising revenue.
Oversee compliance with all regulations related to charitable contributions, including tax receipting requirements or gift acknowledgment letters.
Collaborate with event planning staff to ensure seamless execution of fundraising events while adhering to all relevant safety protocols (e.g., COVID-19).
Develop a marketing plan that promotes the organization's appeal among its target audiences (e.g., donors, volunteers, clients).
Work collaboratively with other departments within the organization to ensure effective cross-functional teamwork (e.g., program staff, volunteer coordinators).
Help develop strategies for building awareness of the organization's mission or programs among diverse communities or underserved populations.
Encourage younger generations to get involved in philanthropy by creating youth-focused campaigns or events that align with their interests (e.g., social justice causes).
Utilize data analytics tools to measure key performance metrics related to fundraising efforts (e.g., donor retention rate, average gift size).
Leverage social media platforms (e.g., LinkedIn) to expand the organization's reach among corporate philanthropy circles or other donor segments.
Host exclusive events for major donors or planned giving prospects that provide insider access to the organization's work or leadership team.
Personalize fundraising appeals based on donors' interests or past giving history (e.g., sending targeted appeals related to specific programs or projects).
Host peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns that leverage existing relationships among donors or volunteers to expand the organization's reach (e.g., crowdfunding campaigns).
Stay up-to-date on emerging trends related to alternative forms of financing (e.g., impact investing) that may present new opportunities for funding organizational objectives.
Monitor competitors or similar organizations within the nonprofit sector to identify best practices or innovative ideas that may be replicable within our own fundraising strategy.
Foster an environment of learning and growth within the development team by sharing knowledge and expertise among staff members and encouraging ongoing professional development.
Host "friend-raising" events designed to introduce new supporters to our work or build deeper relationships with existing donors within a casual environment (e.g., wine tasting).
Host "thank-a-thons" where volunteers or staff members personally call each individual donor to express gratitude for their support (and potentially uncover additional giving opportunities).
Host small-group giving circles where donors are invited to pool their resources together towards a particular project or initiative (e.g., grassroots fundraising).
Work closely with board members to leverage their networks or personal giving contributions towards achieving organizational goals (while ensuring transparency around potential conflicts of interest).
Use behavioral economics principles (e.g., social proof) in designing fundraising appeals that maximize response rates from donors.
Participate in professional associations related to fundraising or philanthropy (e.g., Association of Fundraising Professionals) to expand knowledge base and build relationships within the field.
Host post-event debrief sessions that reflect on what worked well during an event (and what could be improved upon) for future iterations of similar events.
Host focus groups or survey donors regularly to gather feedback on what types of communication methods they prefer (e.g., email vs direct mail), which types of programs they find most impactful, etc.
Develop volunteer-led fundraisers that leverage existing interest groups within the community (e.g., bike races) towards supporting your organization's mission statement.
Host "give-back" challenges aimed at engaging millennial audiences by tying donations back to social media participation.
Host 'virtual' open-house events showcasing your programs' achievements so as to engage potential funders in a more interactive way.
Organize stakeholder events where your organization's leadership team describes its values, mission statement & overall objectives.
Leverage annual holidays & international days around themes related to your organization's work (e.g., women's day) for campaign donation drives.
Create donation tiers tied toward specific programming & promote these campaigns toward strategic stakeholders.
Foster philanthropy by developing educational materials & resources on various social issues.
Work closely with legal counsel & regulatory experts in navigating complex tax-rules associated with charitable contributions.
Develop & lead crowdfunding initiatives targeting specific categories/areas related to your programs' missions.
Encourage workplace CSR initiatives via partnerships with companies interested in supporting social causes.
Integrate sustainability standards into your fundraising initiatives: reduce waste at your events/even encourage vendors/partners who promote eco-friendly products/services.
Create an alumni/donor directory complete w/ contact info & bio details organized by geographic location/industry sector.
Utilize Google Analytics/other data analysis tools in measuring online performance metrics related to website traffic & engagement levels around your organization's programs/fundraising efforts.