Nonprofits live and die on their ability to raise sufficient funds to carry out their mission. Too often these organizations underestimate their fundraising potential and spend energy and effort on activities that don’t generate optimal returns on investment.

The Geis Group can provide a comprehensive analysis that will illustrate not only how much gain is possible, but where to discover the greatest growth potential. More importantly, we’ll keep you from making these common errors:

• Establishing fundraising expectations that align with other charities’ funding goals, without understanding the power of your own organization’s unique experience, constituency and programs.
• Developing strategic plans based on perceived fundraising potential without applying scientific analysis.
• Creating unrealistic expectations that result in frustration, disappointment and even failure for the development team and the organization.

The Geis Group uses a variety of tools including trend analysis, infrastructure, database capacity and leadership. We work with fund development staff and leadership to develop an ambitious but realistic projection of potential returns, supported by a “blue print” for success that incorporates a “relationship” based approach to fundraising.

Too often those entrusted with fund raising responsibilities find themselves entrenched in tradition, doing what’s been done before because it’s what everyone expects. Then, when fundraising leaders decide to try something new, their inexperience with the new approach may result in unforeseen obstacles and frustration.

When The Geis Group steps in, we conduct a thorough assessment of the current situation. We then apply our extensive experience with a vast array of successful fundraising approaches as well as our knowledge of current trends and best practices to show our clients how to design a strategy that best fits their culture, their market, and their capacity.

Before the initiative begins, we train your staff and give them the tools and resources to efficiently facilitate each challenge. Through established checkpoints, we help your staff implement the structure and design in order to reap the significant rewards.

Studies have shown that donors choose to give to organizations that resonate with their personal experience and with whom they connect on an emotional level. Finding those hot buttons is a critical piece of the fundraising process.

The success of any fundraising campaign is dependent on its ability to generate enthusiasm and excitement, which can only be accomplished when the organization can deliver an engaging and relevant story. This means carefully interviewing constituents to discover what they value, and then providing tangible examples of how their donation will benefit their friends and neighbors.

The Geis Group has a team of professionals dedicated to creating and delivering this story in a visually dynamic and compelling package. Whether it’s graphic design, content development, or distribution strategy, we can create a powerful message specifically targeted to your best prospects.

We believe strongly that effective storytelling is integral to any successful campaign, so we help with the development of the necessary materials, including:

• The prospectus, which outlines the specific concrete details of each campaign with pictures, diagrams, or other tools to clearly explain each facet.
• The case, which infuses an emotional appeal to help donors connect the project to their personal experience and values.
• Other supporting materials, from appeals to press releases to event promotion, all designed to send a clear and consistent message.