Our Process
How does the
Underwood & Associates'
approach work ?
Simply put, our process is designed to make sure that the plan we develop is YOUR plan. From that point on, our work is aimed at getting everyone marching to the same beat.
It takes four steps.
1
ANALYSIS
Underwood & Associates begins our Four Step Process by scheduling a comprehensive series of interviews with key staff within your organization and selected leaders of your existing constituency. These interviews are designed to provide insights that will enable us to devise the blueprint for your organization’s successful fundraising strategies and will form the foundation for immediate and long-range fundraising goals.
2
REVIEW
Underwood & Associates strongly believes in consensus building. We work to build this consensus by engaging the key players in your organization in each step of the process, and synthesizing the knowledge, resources, and different perspectives disclosed by interviews in Step One. This allows Underwood & Associates to move forward with a clear and focused fundraising plan for your organization.
3
REPORT
Proposed solutions in a detailed plan for fundraising is developed to reflect your organization’s consensus from information gathered from Step Two. This allows Underwood & Associates to construct solutions in a detailed plan for fundraising that truly reflects your organization’s consensus. We also continually involve your organization in the process so that this detailed blueprint for the future is one that is specific to your organization and effectively incorporates your unique culture, structure, and strengths.
4
IMPLEMENT
And finally, Underwood & Associates will work with your organization’s Staff and Board of Directors to begin implementing the fundraising plans. Ultimately, it is our goal to work our way out of our consulting role by providing the plan, the training, and early implementation of the plan that will ensure your organization is well prepared to achieve its fundraising goals and fulfill its vision.
Testimonials
The USS Midway Museum in San Diego would not have been possible without the thoughtful guidance and fundraising expertise of Cliff Underwood and associates. His guidance of our Board of Directors efforts resulted in a successful enterprise that has become an asset to San Diego and the country.
— Mac McLaughlin
President/CEO, USS Midway Museum
Thank you to Underwood and Associates for their invaluable expertise, guidance, and recommendations which helped us to achieve and exceed our goals with the I AM Saint Mary’s Hall capital campaign. We partnered with Cliff and Shari on a development audit, feasibility study, and strategic fundraising plan, successfully stewarding and building donor relations and ultimately completing our $26 million campaign. Cliff and Shari are tenured fundraising professionals who enjoy what they do, and take a personal and genuine interest in their clients.
— Camilla W. Hannah
Head of Community Engagement
Saint Mary's Hall
As a small organization that made the decision to hire a Development Director, we knew we needed to engage with a nonprofit consultant who could identify strong candidates but also truly understand the unique culture of ThriveWell. We were beyond thrilled with Underwood and Associates’ ability to evaluate our needs and present a pool of candidates who had the knowledge, skills and abilities to take our organization to the next level. Their industry “know how” is unmatched plus they’re fun to work with!