Recruit several key staff, board members and respected outside experts in your community to participate in planning, researching and writing your proposal.
Select individuals who have special knowledge or expertise in the area in which you are asking them to participate:
• your organization's C.F.O. or accountant may be an invaluable help in developing the project/program budget;
• a board member of long-standing may be the best person to help develop an overview of your organization's history;
• a program director may be the best for developing all the components related to the project/program you wish to have funded.
Draft a one-page list of duties and expectations - a job description - for key staff, board members and respected outside experts.
B) Donor contacts
Recruit several key individuals who are willing to make major donor contacts. Ideally, these should be people with a high profile in your community or region (or nationally). Their involvement will lend credibility to your proposal. Start with members of your board, especially the development committee.
Draft a one-page list of duties and expectations - a job description - for volunteers in your major donor cultivation program.
Explain in detail what is expected when contacts are made. Make sure you get the input of the volunteer willing to make the contact.
Allow each volunteer to choose whether he or she wants to participate in solicitation efforts or to draw the line at cultivation and education; either can be valuable. Recruit committed individuals whom you will be able to manage effectively.
