Our Services
At The Development Dept., we strengthen nonprofit fundraising through customized plans, coaching, and training built on decades of hands-on experience. Whether you're launching a development program or elevating an existing one, we provide the structure, strategy, and support you need to grow with confidence.
Creation of Development Plans
A strong fundraising program begins with a strong strategy. We create custom fundraising development plans that serve as your organization’s roadmap outlining goals, timelines, systems, and actionable steps that align with your mission and capacity.
Annual fundraising goals and KPIs
Donor segmentation and cultivation strategies
Major, mid-level, and annual giving frameworks
Stewardship and retention best practices
Corporate partnership strategies
Systems and workflow recommendations
Grant and sponsorship priorities
Board and staff fundraising roles
Every plan is built from scratch to meet your organization exactly where you are — and guide you where you want to go.
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Fractional Development Support
Being understaffed is a challenge most development teams know too well. Often one person is responsible for the strategy, the execution and the management of everything it takes to keep the organization funded. Our fractional development support lightens that load. You get a seasoned team on retainer that handles the behind-the-scenes work that makes fundraising possible, while building best practices that drive growth and donor engagement. We offer several packages of support, so you can choose what your organization needs right now and grow it as your needs do.
Packages may include:
Pipeline management, donor profiles and moves management
CRM maintenance, data hygiene, and donor dashboards and KPIs
Annual fund campaigns and direct mail, email and social media appeals
Event logistics, sponsorship packages and day-of management
Grant research, writing, submission and deadline tracking
Donor newsletters, impact reports and stewardship communications
Planned giving programs and gift acceptance policies
Every engagement begins with a development plan, so our support is grounded in strategy from day one. We work as an extension of your team.
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Add-On Asset Creation
To support your fundraising efforts, we create professional development materials that help you communicate clearly and inspire donors.
Assets include:
Case for Support
Appeal and Acknowledgement Language
Basic General Operating Grant Proposals
Pitch Decks for Donors and Corporations
Stewardship & Recognition Cadence Templates
Donor Retention Analysis
Additional tailored development assets as needed
These resources help you tell your story effectively, build trust, and support consistent stewardship.
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Board Concierge Services
Most nonprofit boards want to raise more money, but many don’t know where to start. Board members sign up ready to help, yet they often lack the tools, the language or the accountability structures to engage donors and grow funding. That leaves the Executive Director or development staff carrying the full weight of fundraising while the board’s potential goes unused. Our Board Concierge Services offer ongoing coaching and strategic support throughout the year. Board members gain confidence, effective ask techniques, and the structure to show up as true partners in your organization’s financial sustainability.
Concierge support may include:
Tracking each board member’s give/get commitment
Board giving scorecard management
Fundraising advisory at Development Committee or board meetings
Quarterly group fundraising coaching calls
One-on-one check-ins with your Board Chair or Development Committee Chair
Talking points and meeting prep for board leadership
Curated donor outreach scripts and cultivation touchpoints
Personalized thank-you letters for board members to sign and send
Tracking and follow-up on fundraising commitments made in meetings
We turn good intentions into real accountability and measurable results, so your board becomes a fundraising partner rather than a spectator.
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Development Coaching
Fundraisers thrive when they have a coach in their corner. We provide one-on-one development coaching for new, emerging, and growing fundraisers who want to increase confidence, build strong donor relationships, and achieve consistent results.
Coaching may include support with:
Asking for major gifts
Time management and portfolio building
Donor meeting preparation
Prospect strategy
Stewardship systems
Goal tracking and accountability
Professional skill development
Our coaching is personalized, practical, and rooted in real-world experience helping your fundraiser succeed faster and avoid common pitfalls.
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Group Development Trainings
When your entire team grows, your results grow. Our group development trainings strengthen your internal capacity by teaching proven fundraising strategies in a collaborative, interactive environment.
Workshops may cover:
Donor stewardship and retention
Prospect identification
Storytelling for fundraising
Corporate sponsorships
Grant readiness and proposal structure
Major gifts fundamentals
Event fundraising best practices
These sessions are ideal for staff retreats, new development departments, or organizations seeking unified strategy and skill building across teams.
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Prospect Research
The right ask starts with knowing who you’re asking. We build detailed profiles of your donors and prospects, covering their giving history, philanthropic interests, affiliations and capacity, so every conversation is informed and intentional. We can also scan your current donor base to find supporters who are ready to do more. That way you’re asking the people who already believe in your mission for the right amount.
Research may include:
Detailed donor and prospect profiles
Giving history, affiliations and philanthropic interests
Capacity insights to guide ask amounts
Donor base scans to identify upgrade and major gift potential
Right-sized ask recommendations for current supporters
Prioritized prospect lists to focus your time and energy
Briefing materials to prepare for donor meetings
Better information leads to better conversations, stronger relationships, and asks that match each donor’s true potential.
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