the essex & drake FUND RAISING SERVICES

Essex & Drake Fund Raising Counsel is a full-service fundraising consulting firm to nonprofits and public benefit organizations. Our intention is to be large enough to always have available staff to meet our clients' needs, and small enough to allow our senior management to become personally involved with every client relationship.

Our Services Include:

Capital Campaigns
Our specialty is full-time or part-time campaign direction including: recruitment of volunteer leadership, prospect identification, donor research, solicitation strategies, volunteer management, campaign, collateral materials, solicitation training, donor recognition, and revenue tracking.

Feasibility & Planning Studies
To determine the level of success of a potential major capital campaign, we seek factual information through confidential personal interviews about leadership potential, financial support available, community image, volunteer and board strength, plus other relevant factors -- followed by a comprehensive report and campaign action plan.

Board and Leadership Development
We work with Board members and staff to develop their leadership and fundraising skills. We offer group and individual counseling.

Strategic Retreats
We work with clients to establish the parameters and the essential steps to a results-oriented strategic session that will set your organization on the right course for the next several years.

The Coaching Project
We have a seasoned fundraising and board development Coach at your disposal to advise and guide our clients' development operations.
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Grant Writing and Foundation Research
A well-rounded fundraising plan includes contributions from foundations, including public, private, community, and corporate foundations. We offer services that include finding prospective funders, reviewing and giving feedback on existing grant requests; writing proposals, working independently or working with the staff; gathering or preparing attachments, writing grant reports, and designing tracking and reporting systems to ensure long-term success.

Event Management
We assist clients and their depth of understanding in streamlining the organizational necessities of producing a money-making event and maximizing profits of solicitation efforts. We also customize the event structure to best utilize an organization's resources for an event model that is sustainable over time.

Major Gift Programs
We help clients establish and improve major gifts program as part of their fundraising efforts. We offer direction to identify prospects, research donors, cultivate prospects, and plan successful solicitation strategies. We specialize in turning current donors into major gift contributors.

Development Audits
For development audits, we study past fundraising efforts, Board participation, special events, foundation and corporate proposals, volunteer management, donor records and tracking, and the role of professional staff. These elements are evaluated in relation to the organization's fundraising goals and the organization's long range plan.

Marketing
We counsel and work with clients to plan and implement proactive marketing plans and programs designed to produce measurable results.

Public Relations
We assist our clients in a full spectrum of public relations services ranging from identifying relevant media outlets, handling press conferences and designing high-impact, results-oriented programs.

Fundraising Plans
As former Directors of Development, we bring clients excellent expertise in building effective and efficient fundraising plans and development departments. We address recruiting Board members, identifying new prospects, implementing good cultivation activities, developing effective solicitations skills, and building Board accountability in fundraising.

Volunteer Training
We provide detailed instruction and strategies to maximize a volunteer's effectiveness and time in major fundraising efforts.

Periodic Counseling
We offer services for certain projects where staff and volunteers need periodic coaching and guidance to accomplish their goals.

Post-Campaign Follow Up
After a successful campaign, we provide a follow-up plan that guides staff and volunteers in their continuing fundraising efforts.