Bentz Group - Internal Development Audits

Internal Development Audits

One of the most important measures of a non-profit organization’s well-being is the efficiency and effectiveness of its ability to fundraise. Accordingly, an unbiased, thorough assessment of an organization’s development function is a valuable tool that can strengthen all fundraising efforts. The Bentz Group’s internal development audit culminates in specific recommendations that will improve both near- and long-term fundraising results. Many of our clients experience immediate bottom-line improvement when they begin to implement our suggestions.

During an internal development audit we evaluate all aspects of your development operations by using the following methodologies: in-person interviews with select staff, board, and volunteers; on-site review of records, publications, methods, and personnel; and analysis of existing data. Upon request, we will employ benchmarking techniques to compare your institution to organizations similar in size and mission in order to determine how fundraising best practices are being applied.

Typically, we evaluate practices and results from a three- to five-year period–this allows us to identify potential trouble areas, gaps, or trends.

Following are the areas that are reviewed:

Organization’s mission, challenges, and strategic plans and their impact on fundraising
Development planning and programs including annual fund, planned giving, major gift giving, web-based fundraising, corporate sponsorships, endowment, and recent campaigns
Operating budget (past, current, and projected) and the implications for fundraising
Development department budget and allocation of resources
Staff effectiveness, including experience levels and staff structure
Prospect research, identification, and rating procedures
Solicitation methods including direct mail, telephone, e-mail, and website
Cultivation methods, including special events
Recordkeeping systems and fundraising software use
Board structure, recruitment, and participation
Volunteer involvement and conversion to donors
Donor acknowledgement and recognition
Donor database analysis, including giving levels and constituency profiles
Communication and public relations efforts, including donor newsletters, annual reports, e-updates, and target strategies for discrete donor segments

The Bentz Group recommends an internal development audit when:

A major capital and endowment campaign is being planned and you need to ensure internal readiness for the undertaking;
Annual fund or major gift programs are stagnant;
A planned giving program is being created (or is not used effectively);
Annual fund, major gift, and planned giving programs are going well, but you want to increase the results;
Your institution has many friends, but they are not donors;
Board and volunteer engagement is not being maximized in fundraising efforts; and
Your development department requires any one (or more) of the following: realistic goals, tangible benchmarks, a new strategic plan, or a more effective structure.

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