Essential Policies for a Smooth Fundraising Operation
“Excellence is a continuous process and not an accident.”
Working in nonprofit fundraising is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be a whirlwind of deadlines, donor communications, and event planning. It's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day chaos, leading to inefficiencies and, dare I say, "wheel-spinning."
That's where well-defined policies and procedures come in, transforming your work from reactive to proactive.
Imagine this: a clear policy on donor gift acceptance means no more guessing games about what your organization can and cannot receive. A standardized procedure for thanking donors ensures timely and consistent acknowledgment, strengthening relationships without reinventing the wheel each time. When everyone knows the process for managing pledges or how to handle sensitive donor information, it frees up valuable time and mental energy that can be redirected toward what truly matters: building relationships and securing vital funds.
Policies and procedures aren't about stifling creativity or adding bureaucracy. They're about creating a robust framework that supports your fundraising efforts. They provide clarity, reduce errors, ensure compliance, and ultimately, make your life as a nonprofit fundraiser significantly easier and more effective. By establishing these guidelines, you're not just preventing problems; you're actively creating an environment where excellence can truly flourish.
Bonus: you’ll remove one more contributor to burnout or overwhelm. Making the effort to create important policies and procedures now eliminates the need to have the same conversations over and over again. It also minimizes the likelihood you’ll have to deal with a donor who wasn’t treated fairly or transparently, or that you’ll have to backpedal on accepting a controversial donation.
Need some inspiration? Here are my go-to’s for policy and procedure creation:
“Gift Acceptance Policies”, National Council of Nonprofits
Developing Fundraising Policies and Procedures: Best Practices for Accountability and Transparency, Association of Fundraising Professionals. This one comes complete with 15 sample documents you can customize for your organization.
