Our December ILD session focused on demystifying strategic planning and turning it into an actionable, measurable development plan that drives fundraising success. Jen Darling and Christy Clay walked participants through the essential building blocks of a strong development program—from clarifying organizational vision to defining the staffing, metrics, and systems needed to bring that vision to life.
The session opened with a grounding reminder to “do less, better,” emphasizing that strategic clarity—not more activity—is what unlocks meaningful revenue growth. We explored best practices for organizational visioning, how to align fundraising priorities with long-term goals, and why transparent, regularly reviewed plans support both accountability and momentum.
Participants then examined the core components of a development plan, including goals, ownership, budget, messaging, a detailed action timeline, and clear KPIs to track both leading and lagging indicators of success. A helpful framework on page 16 showed how to reverse-engineer milestones by starting with what success should look like at year-end and working backward.
We also introduced tools to assess your organization’s readiness for fundraising, including the Framework for Fundraising Success—a comprehensive self-audit covering mission clarity, strategic planning, board engagement, systems, donor cultivation, and infrastructure. It provides an excellent checklist to identify strengths and areas needing increased focus.
It was another energizing session that offered a practical, energizing look at how to transform vision into action and create development plans that truly move organizations forward.
Resources From This Session
