Strategic Fund Development: Building Profitable Relationships That Last, Third Edition

Roles in the Constituency Development Process

Relationship building must be a central value of your nonprofit/NGO. Make sure to integrate constituency development throughout the organization. Involve board members, staff, and other volunteers.

The development officer leads the process of constituency development. Aware of the four key relationships, the fundraiser always reaches beyond fund development and includes the chief executive, staff, and volunteers in the process. The chief development officer makes sure that the entire organization understands the importance of relationship building.

Together, the chief executive officer and the board of directors are responsible for the health of the organization. The chief executive and board make sure that the organization values marketing as a philosophy and uses marketing as a management tool. These leaders ensure that there is adequate infrastructure to support constituency development. They ensure that there are sufficient constituents to support the organization—as clients, donors, and volunteers, partner organizations, and so forth. Or, the CEO and board recognize the organization cannot survive and must take other steps.

Involve the Board and Individual Board Members

See Chapter 9 for details about the role of the board and the individual board member. Download Appendix 9-C, “Key Roles in Fund Development,” from this book’s website. Use the handout to direct conversation with your board, committee, and board members.

The board—as ...