I. Answer the following questions: 

1. Who is the person with primary responsibility for fundraising?
2. Is your fundraising specialist a volunteer or paid staff member?
3. How much time is this person able to devote to fundraising?
4. What is your fundraising specialist's specific strengths?
5. In what areas does your fundraising specialist need additional training?

II. Don't proceed until you're able to answer these questions. If you don't have a fundraising specialist, you need to find one. Some suggestions: 

• Hire a new person, either a volunteer or paid staff member, to be your fundraising specialist.
• Hire a fundraising consultant. 
• Release a current employee from some duties to spend several hours a day exclusively on fundraising.

III. Whomever you choose to be your fundraising specialist, arrange for this person to receive training in any needed areas. It will also be helpful for you and your board to receive fundraising training. The more people in your organization who participate in training, the greater the chances that new ideas will be put into place and that they will succeed.  Money for training is always money well spent!

  

IV. Keep in mind the value of "outsourcing" when you need special talents for a short time. Such a strategy is often appropriate when you try a new form of fundraising, such as planned giving.