Development Programs

The financial strength of an organization is more and more dependent on the ability of professional and volunteer leadership to effectively prospect, cultivate and enlist individual, corporate, organization, and foundation on-going support.

With years of practical experience in several non-profit sectors, Cornerstone can not only provide expertise in theory but can actually be involved in helping to establish or improve your development program and in meeting face-to-face with your constituency.

Staff Recruitment
Cornerstone will provide input on a selection process, job description, and option to interview candidates for the development director position. With over 30 years of experience in fund development networking and as members of several national organizations in the area of funding and stewardship, Cornerstone consultants can provide a resource of qualified candidates for consideration by an organization. Cornerstone can also analyze the possibility of using current staff who are passionate about your ministry and interested in the area of fund development.

On-Site Staff Mentoring
The mentoring process is designed to facilitate development and stewardship leadership within your organization. Our associates provide training for your staff by

• » implementing year-long stewardship education emphasis using the "comprehensive Stewardship of the gospel" philosophy
• » training and mentoring staff in the field of development and stewardship
• » conducting major gift visits with staff
• » providing services for personal and group visitation
• » guiding leadership toward a major appeal.

Establish the Development / Alumni Office
Schools and organizations are finding it more and more necessary to secure third-source funding just to maintain its ministry operations, not to speak of the need to advance ministry through new programs, staff, scholarship assistance, and endowments. Cornerstone offers experienced staff who have successfully created and managed a Development / Alumni Office at the elementary, secondary, and collegiate levels and are ready to assist your school or organization to either begin or enhance the effectiveness of the fund development program. Areas of assistance will include office space, necessary equipment, data base considerations, prospecting, moves management system, direct mail appeals, annual reports, foundation research and proposals, phone-a-thons, estate planning basics, training opportunities and memberships, on-site mentoring (see above), staff recruitment (see above) and more.

Temporary Development Services
Securing or replacing successful, professional, and trained development staff in a school or organization or reigniting a stalled funding initiative can be a timely and frustrating process for the Board or Administration. Cornerstone provides, at a moments notice, the ability to "step in" on-site, at an affordable cost to your budget, and carry on your development activities for usually 6 to 12 months. Areas of specialty would include the annual fund, capital campaigns, estate planning, and endowments.