Smart ideas delivered every other Tuesday from Hartsook Companies, Inc.

December 18, 2007

Successful nonprofit organizations invest in fundraising. They view the dollars they spend, the human resources they deploy and the time they allocate to fundraising as investments, not expenses.

It's all in how you look at it.

A nonprofit organization certainly can consider the costs of staff, travel, entertainment and fundraising counsel as expenses. When these costs are labeled as such, the resulting view is narrow and the nonprofit is blind to the potential for increasing returns.

But when a nonprofit organization views its allocations toward fundraising staff time, related expenses and professional counsel as investments, it gives them the potential to leverage the future for increasingly greater returns over time. Thus is the nature of true philanthropic investment.

As you consider adding a staff position, increasing your fundraising travel budget, authorizing a staff raise or paying for professional development, remember, in general, that most nonprofit staff positions yield no return on investment. Consequently, even if your fundraising team raises half of what you spend on it - or the same amount, or twice as much, or more - you are investing in a staff function that does result in a return on monies spent, if only in part. And you are investing in a role that brings the potential to yield greater and greater returns on your investment over time in the form of major gifts, grants, public awareness, annual support and more.

Invest in philanthropy. It's the smart choice.

- Matthew J. Beem, MPA, CFRE, President (Kansas City) matt@hartsookcompanies.com

Another Smart Idea...From the Hartsook Best Practices Collection^SM

"Treat you organization as one entity, where each voice will be the only voice of the organization." - Bakita Knebel, American Humanics Student Association (Greer, S.C.)

If you are interested in Best Practices and smart ideas, see these additional resources from Hartsook Companies:

• "Fundraising Magic - 33.5 Strategies for Turning Board Members into Money Makers" by Robert G. Swanson (2007, ASR Philanthropic Publishing). This book shares proven strategies you can implement immediately to give Board members the confidence and tools needed to cultivate donors, solicit gifts and strengthen your organization's position in the community. To order this book, follow this link http://www.ASRpublishing.com.

• "Reality Fundraising: Proven, Practical Ideas for the Enlightened Fundraiser" by Bob Hartsook (2005, ASR Philanthropic Publishing). The book features great ideas, insights and lessons learned through hundreds of best practices from nonprofit professionals nationwide. To order the book, follow this link http://www.ASRpublishing.com.

• "Best Practices Coast to Coast^SM," a compilation of best practices from every state in the union.

• "Hartsook Best Practices Collection^SM," our original collection of 250 best practices and great ideas.

For a free copy of "Best Practices Coast to Coast^SM" or the "Hartsook Best Practices Collection^SM", please email Tammy Weinman, tammy@hartsookcompanies.com, or visit our web site at http://www.hartsookcompanies.com/bestpractices2.shtml. We also invite you to contribute your own best practice by emailing Tami Druzba, tami@hartsookcompanies.com.

Interested in Speakers?

Hartsook consultants are available to speak to your organization on a variety of topics. To read more, visit http://www.hartsookcompanies.com/speak.shtml or email Tami Druzba at tami@hartsookcompanies.com to discuss the possibilities.

Visit the Hartsook Companies web site for:

• Educational opportunities
• Books/reference articles
• Conference/workshop speakers

Strategies for Success explores smart ideas, connecting with more than 1,500 fundraising professionals bi-weekly. We welcome your contributions or comments. If you'd like a free subscription to Strategies for Success - or its monthly companion, eHartsook on Philanthropy - contact Tammy Weinman, tammy@hartsookcompanies.com. You also can reach her at 316.630.9992.

Our web site is located at http://www.hartsookcompanies.com.