THG audits and serves as a coach for development teams of all sizes, from solo officers to multi-person departments to help them build systems that are optimized for fundraising success.
In many nonprofits, the development office starts as, or even remains, a team of one. A solitary gift officer is responsible for identifying prospects, managing donor relationships, and coordinating campaigns. While this is a common reality, it is not necessarily a sustainable structure for long-term growth. Building efficiency begins with optimizing both human and technical resources.
The first step is ensuring your CRM (Constituent Relationship Management) system is being used to its full potential. This tool supports every stage of the donor journey and enhances teams of any size. Clean data, consistent practices, and meaningful segmentation enables better relationships and smarter fundraising.
Next, nonprofits can unlock capacity by strategically engaging volunteers. With thoughtful onboarding and clear expectations, volunteers can assist with everything from administrative tasks to donor communications. They become a valuable extension of your development function when matched with the right roles. Begin by engaging your board members and empower those who are willing to become peer solicitors and stewardship officers. We assisted one office by coaching their board to conduct a $100K mini-campaign. Through effective board training and staff support, they surged forward into a peer driven, successful, campaign.
As development capacity grows through additional staff, board support, or volunteer engagement, it becomes essential to clearly define roles, responsibilities, and workflows. Strategic delegation ensures that team members are working efficiently and using their greatest skills.
By focusing on tools, talent, and team structure, your team, no matter its size, can lay the foundation for sustainable nonprofit growth and greater impact.