Services

Campaign Planning and Direction

Optimus provides experienced, hands-on campaign counsel to guide your development team in meeting the financial goals of a major capital or endowment campaign. We provide strategic oversight of your fundraising initiative and work collaboratively with staff, board and volunteers to design and implement a ‘road map’ to your campaign’s success. A broad range of services are offered and delivered in a customized package, including development of a comprehensive campaign plan and organizational structure; crafting of your campaign case statement; recruitment of campaign leadership and volunteers; design of prospect briefings and solicitation strategies; development of prospect proposals; creation and implementation of prospect research and tracking systems; development of campaign training programs for organizational leaders and campaign volunteers; planning and oversight of campaign staff and volunteer leadership meetings; development of operational and promotional materials; and design of donor recognition and naming opportunities.

Feasibility and Planning Studies

A Feasibility/Planning Study is often the first critical step in the undertaking of a major capital or endowment campaign. A study not only generates important information and data to plan a campaign, it serves as an effective tool for the cultivation and education of your prospective donors and friends. Optimus offers several options to conduct your feasibility/planning study in a timely and cost effective way. Our team is personally engaged in every stage and detail of the study and works closely with organizational leadership to ensure meaningful results and sound, pragmatic recommendations. The hallmarks of every study conducted by Optimus include comprehensive planning; extensive preparation that engages and seeks advice from key stakeholders; an extensive number of personal interviews; focus groups and a broad-based mail survey; a comprehensive report with recommendations based on in-depth evaluation of the study’s findings; and a preliminary campaign plan.

Major Gift Programs

Major gifts are the foundation of a well-evolved and successful development program. Optimus will work with organizational leadership and staff to enhance your current major gift program or establish a new program. Its goal is to help you appreciably increase philanthropic revenue by maximizing the level of support of current donors, as well as developing new significant ‘investors’ in your organization. Optimus offers an array of services including a comprehensive evaluation of current major gift fundraising and potential; assessment of your major gift prospect base; creation of a major gifts plan; crafting of solicitation strategies and proposals; development of organizational staffing and structure; training of leadership and volunteers; creation of donor and volunteer recognition programs; and oversight of major gift activities.

Development Assessments

A development assessment allows your organization to evaluate past and current fundraising results; assess current programs; and enhance development efficiencies, activities and future outcomes. Regardless of the size and scope of your development program, Optimus can tailor a development assessment that assists your organization in meeting its immediate and long-term fundraising goals. Its immersive process includes an analysis of your development structure, staffing, programs and processes, resources, results, volunteer engagement and training programs, and information systems.

Strategic Planning

For most not-for-profits organizations, fundraising is critical to their ability to support operations and fulfill their mission. Few organizations can realize their full potential without intentionality and planning; without looking at fundraising through a strategic lens. Whether you are a small not-for-profit, or one of the largest in the community, Optimus can help you transform your fundraising program, and position it for sustained success. We will work with you to complete a 360-degree assessment of your program, and use that assessment to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to take you into the future. From organizational structure and board development to donor acquisition and “pipeline” development, we will help you grow your program to meet your fundraising needs.

Board Development and Orientation

A major element in the success of an organization’s mission is its board’s understanding of and integral role in fundraising. Optimus offers board development and orientation services that include training programs, group facilitation and planning, and coordination of board retreats that focus on organizational development and fundraising.