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Taking Donors Seriously®- Training in Fund Raising

Thousands of staff members of non-profits across the country attend countless fund raising seminars, conferences and workshops every year. Most of these participants would readily attest to the value of this training. Yet, the average tenure of professional development staff people is 18 months, and there is no end to expressions of frustration about fund raising by field staff who have to raise their own budgets.

Is there a contradiction here? Possibly not.

Fund raising is one of those things that is closer to common sense than theory. Since this is the case, the disparity between the enthusiasm for fund raising training and long-term results may be due to the fact that the training is too far removed from the realities of the streets where the fund raisers walk.

The Taking Donors Seriously® seminar is the only training program on the market developed for community nonprofit and local offices of national and regional organizations.

The TDS seminar offers a combination of:

1. Classroom training on following sound fund raising principles, assembling a case, preparing a priority prospect list, setting a strategy, installing efficient systems, and then designing a plan based on all these steps;

2. Field training following the classroom work that tests the practicality and durability of the preparation and the tools; and

3. Ongoing management of the principles and practices that were taught in the classroom and practiced in the field.

The full TDS seminar takes place over 3 training days in a six-week period.

1. Classroom training on following sound fund raising principles, assembling a case, preparing a priority prospect list, setting a strategy, installing efficient systems, and then designing a plan based on all these steps; 2. Field training following the classroom work that tests the practicality and durability of the preparation and the tools; and 3. Ongoing management of the principles and practices that were taught in the classroom and practiced in the field.The TDS seminar takes place over 3 training days in a six-week period.
A Testimonial from Denny Rydberg, President, Young Life, Colorado Springs

"If you chart the transformation in our thinking and behavior, you will find the introduction of Taking Donors Seriously® (TDS) at the fork in our financial road. What seemed like a radical departure from traditional thought years ago, however, has become commonplace in our culture and conversation. That's great news because TDS is now an integral thread woven through the fabric of Young Life."

FOCUS Consultants

We offer expertise focused on meeting capital campaign challenges head-on, as well as being attuned to the culture and personality of the client.

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Taking Donors Seriously® Seminar

The Taking Donors  Seriously® seminar is the only training program on the market developed for community  nonprofit and local offices of national and regional organizations.

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The FOCUS News

The FOCUS Group, LLC  is  priviledged to be serving as Campaign Counsel for French Camp Academy's $12M Capital Campaign, Speaking to the Generations.

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