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

What’s Happening Out in the World

Does that sound too big? Well, it isn’t. This is the place to start: the environment in which you and your organization operate.

Think about world events like the great recession (its name in the United States) or the global economic crisis (with its own acronym, GEC). The economy affects your community and your organization.

Think about demographics and lifestyles. What do you know about Baby Boomers, Millennials, and gender differences? What are the implications for serving your clients and hiring employees? What trends affect your fund development program and marketing/communications? Think about politics and public policy. How will legislation and regulation affect your clients and donors, your programs and advocacy?

How about technology? Think about the Internet, Google and googling, YouTube, and social media. What’s the effect on your programming and administration, your relationship building, and your marketing/communications? And there’s more, of course: Think about war, safety, security, science, and religion. Think about all the elements in your environment that you cannot control but do have to manage. See Exhibit 1.1, a tiny snapshot just for fun. How out of date is this snapshot as you read it right now or again in six months or later?

Exhibit 1.1 Tiny Snapshot of What’s Happening in the World

Ten Trends You Have to Watch

1. Globalization under fire.

2. Resources feeling the strain.

3. Trust in business running out.

4. A bigger role ...