In today’s challenging economic environment, Christian school leadership and the leadership of various organizations, (i.e., dioceses, synods, conferences, districts, etc., religious orders) continue to search for successful methods to build and retain private financial support for their institutions. The future growth and success of many Christian organizations will be built on a strong base of private financial support provided by individuals, companies, and organizations desiring to help achieve their mission. Kirby-Smith Associates (KSA) has the people, program, and demonstrated expertise to help your elementary school, secondary school or other Christian organization create, build, and grow your program of private financial support. We are unquestionably qualified to assist you in these efforts.

Need Analysis

If your Christian school or organization does not have an existing development program, or if your current program is not growing to meet expected needs, KSA can provide a Development Audit. This study will analyze the current conditions including the operating environment, the organizational structure of the development effort, the level of existing staffing or lack of staffing, the strength of board leadership and commitment, the budgeting support for development, and the willingness of leadership to provide the needed commitment of time to build a strong and effective program. The Development Audit will provide a written plan of action describing the creation or modification of a current program, budget support needed, recommended timeline for actions, and KSA is then available for short-term or long-term consultant advice and support.

Training and Counseling Services

KSA offers Christian schools and organizations the opportunity to receive development counseling and training from a staff of proven development professionals. We offer training for your staff, volunteers, and board leadership through seminars, workshops, or individual coaching and training. Our staff can guide you through the process of creating a development program through the help in managing an established program. KSA can provide feasibility studies, program planning and development, prospect research, staff training, long-range planning, and a myriad of other services that are designed to successfully integrate the development program into your Christian environment.

Annual Fund Programs

Many Christian schools and organizations have developed a series of “fund-raisers” to support the annual operating budget and/or specific budget line items. In some cases, KSA has found these fund-raisers to be very time intensive, require strong volunteer involvement, and generate limited financial support. We suggest that your organization identify the two or three most successful of these fund-raising programs and then begin to build an annual fund program. Successful annual fund programs result in a stronger base of private support, less “volunteer burn-out,” and a more consistent base of support for budgeting purposes. KSA can help identify and build a volunteer organizational structure to lead the annual fund, and draft an operating plan. KSA will then provide the support to identify leaders and volunteers, create programs to involve them in fulfilling your mission, create need awareness and help solicit support. It should be noted that many Christian organizations beginning development programs are able to accomplish these goals utilizing motivated volunteers. Over time, successful programs will generate the income needed to expand programming and staffing.

Capital Campaigns

Capital Campaigns are multi-year development efforts designed to create support for specific larger cost need, such as building and or remodeling physical plant, creating and/or expanding permanent endowments, or other board identified needs. Because of the level of financial support sought, the timelines involved, and the potential impact that the success or failure of a campaign will have, KSA recommends that a Feasibility Study is completed prior to conducting a campaign. KSA has the resources and staff needed to conduct the Feasibility Study which will provide the board/leadership with a written report identifying strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations regarding the feasibility of a Capital Campaign.

KSA has the staff to create a specific Capital Campaign tailored to your individual needs. Because each campaign is unique, each campaign is individually created to meet these specific needs. We do not provide “cookie-cutter” campaigns and manuals. We work with each organization to create a campaign that reflects your strengths to build support for the needs which help your Christian school or organization meet its mission and goals. In addition, many organizations utilize our services to help leadership with long-term planning and facility needs.

KSA can provide your Christian school or organization with the most comprehensive Christian-based financial and fund development services available.

Strategic Planning

Kirby-Smith staff can lead your church, school, diocese, synod, etc., in a strategic planning exercise. Strategic planning is a key to all well-run organizations. A clear strategic plan, with achievable goals, will help your ministries to stay focused on your most important missions and will assist in all of your budgeting and staffing decisions.

Board and Church Council Training

Church councils, and other such bodies, are no different from boards of trustees for non-profit organization. Council members have clear fiduciary duties, duties which are not always fully understood by council members serving for the first time. Kirby-Smith staff are experts in setting out clear guidelines that will assist council members to understand both the extent and the limits of their collective authority.

Endowment Planning and Management

We offer training for religious institutions establishing endowments for the first time, in creating policies and procedures, in training the individuals who will manage endowments, in suggesting best practices in spending endowment proceeds. We also offer training in the best practices for investing endowments. Kirby-Smith is not in the money management business and will not recommend particular firms or brokers ensuring that your staff and volunteers receive fully independent and disinterested advice.

Planned Giving

Kirby-Smith experts can fashion for you a full array of planned giving initiatives, helping to shape your donors’ desires to best serve themselves, their families, and the churches and religious schools that have meant so much to them over the course of their lives. Kirby-Smith staff can lead your donors in discussions of bequests, Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts, and other such vehicles.