What's Going On Here?
We're revising the Development section of the Nonprofit FAQ to better serve the needs of the Idealist community. If you have a suggestion for a topic/item or improvement on an existing topic/item, please contact yuting@idealist.org!
What are the 10 'Immutable Laws of Fundraising'?
The act of fundraising is really the art of relationship-building. If development efforts haven't worked in the past, thinking about these laws will help in the formulation of a more realistic fundraising plan.
Does anyone ever say 'no' to a gift?
It's best to think this question through before the issue arises and to have an established policy that relates any restrictions on donors or donations to the mission of your organization.
How can nonprofits evaluate their fundraising productivity?
An expert in nonprofit accountability and evaluation shares his insights on how to interpret fundraising costs in a collection of essays called the Fundraising Productivity Series.
How can nonprofits set more realistic expectations with their funders?
Funders favor organizations with the leanest overhead costs, encouraging nonprofits to under-report costs and slash their infrastructure. This item outlines how to set more realistic expectations with funders.
How can foundations better evaluate the impact they are having? What are the major benefits of doing so?
Measuring the performance of a foundation can be a tricky and difficult process, especially when it's the grantees that actually deliver. But these days, more and more foundations are developing rigorous self-assessment systems. Find out why, and learn how to develop a results-based measurement system to help determine the impact that a foundation is making.