A Message from Advancement Resources
Advancement Resources

Resolve to Achieve
A Message from Advancement Resources
Did you make a New Year's resolution this year? If so, chances are that you've broken it already or will before mid-year.

According to various surveys and studies, nearly half of American adults make New Year's resolutions. But only 20% are able to stick to their resolutions. Some 60% drop their resolutions within six months. And 35% don't even successfully begin their resolutions.

Fortunately, there are ways to improve your chances for success. Researchers have found that you can maximize the likelihood of achieving your goal by:

  • Clearly stating what you are interested in achieving.
  • Having a plan for how to achieve it.
  • Making sure the goal is attainable – that the goal takes you to a higher level of achievement.
  • Establishing a way of assessing your progress toward the goal.
  • Practice, practice, practice. And revise along the way.

With that in mind, consider making a belated New Year's resolution that takes you to a
higher level of achievement in development.

One challenge development professionals often face is having a large number of donor prospects in what's sometimes called "cultivation." In the Process for Facilitating Donor Development, the prospects are somewhere between "Build Trust-based Relationship"
and "Orchestrate Evaluation."

Donor Development Chart

You've had discovery meetings. Perhaps you've had several meetings. You might still be building trust-based relationships … or locating passions … or matching passions to your organization's initiatives. But for whatever reason, you can't seem to move on to gaining a commitment.

Core Concept

Ask & Act

  • What goal do I want to have for helping donor prospects move to the right on the Donor Commitment Continuum?
  • Remember, make it attainable.
  • How can I use the Donor Development Chart to craft a plan for achieving my goal?
  • What other tools can I use to craft my plan?
  • How will I assess my progress toward my goal?

Now, go out and make magic happen.

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