Your Resource Development Team—A Worthy Investment

By Susan D. Rostkoski, Principal Consultant

Composition of your Resource Development Committee takes careful consideration and mindful placement. You want people dedicated to the mission, first and foremost, because everything else can be coached. You also want to spend time exploring with each individual how comfortable they are with the whole notion of identifying, cultivating, and soliciting donors and what their particular comfort level is with asking.  

But then what? Research shows that careful cultivation of the skills and talents each committee member brings to the table results in a better outcome all ‘round, rather than having a one-size-fits-all position description. Strong engagement, growth in understanding of what “resource development” actually means (not just money), and helping the individual to feel successful in whatever path works best for them results in better long-term results, both for the organization and the individual. 

Here are some ideas to get you started on building a strong committee: 

Tangible: Would you please call these three donors and thank them for their gifts? 

Intangible: If you actually got through to someone, what was their reaction/response to the call? Did they have any comments that we need to know about? 

Coaching moment: Make sure the committee members are provided the tools they need such as a script, good calling times, how often to call, and the message to leave. 

Tangible: Would you go with me on a call and talk about your story in connection with our organization? 

Intangible: What did you notice during the meeting? Is there anything you would have changed in our approach? 

Coaching moment: This is the time to be flexible and understanding, genuinely welcoming input that might give you new ideas and approaches. 

I once had a committee member who had just been “assigned” (not usually a good idea) and, as you can imagine, she was not deeply involved in our work. But one day, she approached me with the idea of having a Saturday soup luncheon at her house to raise money for our food shelf. She proposed inviting neighbors, her husband would make the soup from his mother’s recipes, and I’d have five minutes to make the case when the majority of people were in attendance. And it worked beautifully! People enjoyed the casual nature of the event, coming and going as they pleased, and leaving a donation envelope in the basket provided. It was so successful that she hosted this event for several years, with neighbors mingling, getting to know each other, getting to know our organization, and supporting a great cause. Bonus: We eventually tapped into pro bono services from one of the attendees and several of them became volunteers. 

So, what’s the take-away here? Spending time working one-on-one with your committee members, as the valuable partners they are, will pay dividends and more than return the time you invest. 

Contact us if we can help you accomplish your mission (www.strategic-cc.com).