Bentz
Associates is a full-service firm dedicated to helping you meet
all of your fundraising needs...
At
Bentz Associates, we realize that there is no cookie-cutter
approach to fundraising. As our client, you should expect
nothing less. That is why we provide a wide range of
services tailored to meet your needs.
Whether
you seek to embark on a major campaign, strengthen your board,
or just want to enhance your overall development efforts, we can
develop a program that will be right for you. After all, you
will always be in the fundraising business.
Fundraising
Feasibility Studies
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An
essential step in planning for a major campaign, our Fundraising
Feasibility Study is designed to assess your institution's
campaign readiness. Our study includes the development of
a comprehensive Case Statement and confidential interviews with
50 to 75 carefully selected individuals in the community.
Our final report:
- Suggests
a realistic campaign goal
- Provides
an assessment of the community leadership's current level
of interest and support
- Identifies
potential campaign leaders and major gift prospects
- Assesses
the board's commitment to the proposed campaign
- Outlines
a plan of action for the campaign.
Experience
has shown our Fundraising Feasibility Study to be an
invaluable decision-making tool for not-for-profit
institutions. Having and awareness of the candid comments and
indications of support from key community and area leaders, as
well as our firm's recommendations, your board will be able to
make informed decisions about your institution's future.
The Fundraising Feasibility Study takes 12 to 14 weeks to
complete.
Leadership
Planning Studies
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The
differences between our Leadership Planning Study and our
Fundraising Feasibility Study are subtle, yet very important.
Rather than question interviewees about whether or not they
believe a particular fundraising goal is feasible, the
Leadership Planning Study presents the capital and/or endowment
project and its estimated cost and invites the interviewee's
response. The Leadership Planning Study is more focused on
the identification of lead gift prospects, the development of
project funding strategies, and the recruitment of top campaign
leadership. In some cases, certain interviewees may even
be solicited for their gifts to the project during the
Leadership Planning Study process.
Most
institutions considering a capital and/or endowment campaign
need to conduct a more general Fundraising Feasibility Study to
determine the feasibility of their proposed project. But,
institutions with a highly developed donor base, those which
have recently completed a more general study, and those in
highly sophisticated philanthropic markets may benefit more from
the Leadership Planning Study.
Campaign
Management back
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Bentz
Associates provides both full- and part-time campaign
management. Our full-time campaign management service
involves placing a campaign director on-site for an extended
period of time (usually 10 to 12 months) to oversee the
day-to-day activities of the campaign. These activities
include, but are not limited to:
- Managing
the campaign office and monitoring the expenditure of an
approved campaign budget
- Establishing
systems to identify, research, and evaluate prospects for
the campaign
- Organizing
the campaign structure
- Developing
the campaign plan
- Training
volunteer solicitors and monitoring their progress.
While our
part-time campaign management services call for less time, our
involvement still focuses on organizing and monitoring the
activities of the campaign. In addition, we are always
available by phone. The amount of time spent on-site
each month is determined jointly by fund counsel and the
client and is heavily influenced by the ability of the
client's staff to devote the time required to the campaign.
Internal
Development Audits
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The
Internal Development Audit analyzes and evaluates your
institution's development program. Through the audit
process, we seek to identify the strengths and weaknesses of
your current annual fundraising activities. We:
- Review
information provided by your institution
- Look
at areas such as development planning, development office
organization, research and records, communications,
cultivation, and board and staff composition and their
interactions
- Interview
board and staff members and eight to 10 carefully selected
community and/or regional leaders
- Spend
time observing the operations and attending meetings at the
board and staff level.
Analysis
of this information results in recommendations to improve
development operations. The audit process takes about
eight weeks to complete.
Board
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Board
development services are custom tailored for our clients.
Our Board Audits provide a thorough profile of your
organization's board and a review of current governing bylaws.
Our formal Board Development Program incorporates the Board
Audit with a host of additional services that result in:
We also
can facilitate your next board retreat. We will work
with board members and assigned staff to plan the retreat
agenda and to coordinate the meeting, including site
selection, meals, furnishings, equipment, and other
arrangements. Our staff facilitates the retreat by
guiding participants through the agenda and encouraging their
participation through involvement.
We
also offer the following services:
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