History (1998 – 2005)

Through the leadership and generous support of the Kahanoff Foundation, the Fundraising and Resources Development Project (FRD) was created in 1998 with 11 agencies working with 9 mentor consultants over a 12-month period.  The program’s purpose was “to provide an accessible set of services available to eligible smaller nonprofit organizations that will enable them to become more financially self-sufficient.”  The program was delivered twice through the Kahanoff Foundation. 

In December 2001, the Kahanoff Foundation decided the program needed a permanent home and the management of the FRD program was transferred to CentrePoint Non-Profit Management.

The purpose and format of the program, renamed Fund Development PLUS, remains intact with improvements and upgrades enhancing each service offering.  Participating organizations, who vary in size, sector and fund development background, invest time and energy into fund development.  Program results demonstrate how mentoring provided by experienced professionals can dramatically improve fundraising and resource development capabilities.

From the beginning, agencies have expressed their gratitude and have demonstrated their ongoing enthusiasm.  Over 90% of agencies stay with the program to the end, weathering typical agency day-to-day operational ups and downs, internal program and resource constraints, staff and board changeovers and leadership changes.

About the Program

The Fund Development PLUS program is a mentoring and training program offering a unique growth opportunity for charitable organizations to dramatically improve their fundraising and resource development capabilities, creating impact in achieving sustainability.

Participating charitable organizations are matched to experienced professional Mentor Consultants who work with board and staff over a twelve month period.  The Mentor Consultants follow a work plan that is tailored specifically to the needs of the organization, guiding and working with the agency on areas such as; fund development planning; board, staff and volunteer roles in fundraising; case for support; and fundraising strategies.  Fund Development PLUS incorporates training sessions and peer learning and networking opportunities to further build fundraising depth and knowledge in fund development concepts.  The structure of the Fund Development PLUS program invites multiple people from the Board and Staff to be involved, thus injecting new skills across the organization.

Program Outline

• Year-long program
• Offers 100 hours of mentoring with a Senior Fund Development Professional matched to your organization
• Six seminars including Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Essentials Series
• Peer Learning opportunities
• Subsidized fee: $3,000 for agencies with a budget below $1 million; $4,000 for agencies with a budget of $1 milion - $5 million; and $5,000 for agencies with a budget greater than $5 million (15% of program cost)

Program Benefits

Feedback from participating organizations and mentors, demonstrates the impact that Fund Development PLUS has in helping to drive the sustainability of non-profit organizations. Organizations:

• Become more strategically focused
• Develop a fund development culture within the organization
• Increase Board understanding of their role
• Improve the level of knowledge and understanding of the fund development process
• Build credibility and confidence within the organization both internally and externally
• Develop the capacity of the organization to operate in a sustainable manner