DEVELOPMENT AUDIT

DEVELOPMENT AUDIT
This questionnaire gathers details on your charity to help me think through next steps for you in terms of your fundraising and communications.

Complete the document and submit it to me by the agreed deadline. There are no set word limits per question. If you feel a question is not applicable, just write N/A. If you have any questions, then please email me.

The five categories we will cover here are Strategic Planning, Communications, Fundraising, Database Management, and Key Events. Thank you for your work on this – it will make a big difference.
Name

First NameLast Name
Position
Organisation
Date

MonthDayYear
Date
Are you a registered U.K. Charity?

YesNo
When is your fiscal year end?
e.g., 31-08-25
How many staff do you employ?
Do you also have volunteers? If so, how many?
Part-Time Staff
Full-Time Staff

STRATEGIC PLANNING
A strategic plan recognises all the things that need to happen to achieve desired outcomes. Such plans address everything from fulfilling your mission to planning to meet the infrastructural needs to support your desired goals. Strategic plans are typically adapted every 3-5 years.

Do you currently have a Strategic Plan in place that serves as a road map to what you want to be, how to get there, when you want to be there, an approximate cost of getting there, and a list of steps to be taken to succeed?
On a scale of 1-10 (10 is excellent), how would you describe your strategic planning activities?
List the specific reasons why you chose this number:
Do you have a clear Development Plan in place to undergird your Strategic Plan so that you have a clear road map for how you will raise the funds to support your strategic plan?
Does your organisation track its long-term expected outcomes?
Do you have any process in place to measure these?

COMMUNICATIONS
In this section, I want to know the different ways in which you as an organisation communicate with your stakeholders. Among them may be materials such as brochures, newsletters, magazines and direct mail as well as digital media, such as e-newsletters, your website and social media.
List all the things you are doing, print and online, however long.
Please state the frequency of each organisation activity e.g., E-newsletter (monthly); Magazine (annual)
Have you ever asked your supporters to review your publications and e-communications?

YesNo
Overall, how many staff do you have working in communications?
Full-Time
Part-Time

Please list these positions with areas of responsibility (e.g., Bob Jones, Marketing Manager, all external comms (online and in print)).

	Employee Name	Position Name	Responsibility
1
2
3

What gap or gaps do you feel exist, if any, in your communications work?

FUNDRAISING

Success in raising funds is critical for your organisation to fulfil its vision and mission.
How many names are on your database?
How many donor households do you have?

What is the average number of individual donors of the last 3 years? Complete the total numbers for each year too.

	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Average
# of Donors

What is the average amount given by individual donors over the last 3 years?
On average, how many gifts are received each year:
How much money do you need to raise this fiscal year?
How much money do you need to raise for your next fiscal year?
Do you claim gift aid on gifts from individuals, where applicable? If so, is there a methodical process in place to do this?
Do you have an annual giving programme that people can participate in?

YesNo
List the giving programmes you are currently engaged in offering?
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For the next two questions, I suggest you take a three-year review if possible.
How many new donors on average do you add annually to your database?
How many donors stop giving in an average year?
Do you conduct fundraising campaigns to meet short-term needs? List those projects here:
Do you ever fundraise from overseas?
If so, from which countries and what are the giving levels from each?
Have you ever completed a capital campaign?
When did you complete it?
i.e., May 2025
How much was raised?
Did you view it as successful?

FUNDRAISING: Part 2

Churches, Trusts, and Foundations
What is the average number of churches that support you each year?
What is the average amount given from churches?
How many trusts made a grant to you in the last year?
How many different trusts made a grant to you in the last three years?
What is the average amount given by trusts and foundations?
Have you ever approached overseas trusts and foundations?

Please list your annual income each year from all donations over the last five years, including what you expect this fiscal year.

	Annual Income
FY21
FY22
FY23
FY24
FY25 (Expected)

Do you receive other income? If so, from where and how much?

	Annual Income (FY25)
Rental of Buildings
Sales
Honoraria
Events Income
TOTAL (Inc. Donations)

Other sources of income:
Please list if applicable.
Who is the lead development person in your organisation?
E.g., Name and Job Title
Is this the person who works with major donors (£5,000 and above)?

Are there any other personnel who work in development? (If so, list their names and job titles and area of responsibility e.g., Bob Jones, Trusts Officer, grants writing)

	Employee Name	Position Name	Responsibility
1
2
3

Overall, how many staff do you have working in development/fundraising?
Full-Time
Part-Time
What gaps do you feel, if any, exist in your development work?

DATABASE MANAGEMENT
Your organisation’s database represents a critical element of development and communications and is at the heart of your organisation. This is how you keep your records of names and addresses of those interested in your organisation, how you can promote events, generate relevant lists for campaigns, provide targeted information, and recognise trends to assess the overall health of your organisation.
Who manages your database on a day-to-day basis?
E.g., Name and Job Title
Is this a full-time role?

YesNo
Do you feel the database is adequate for your organisation?
What is the system called?
How long have you used this database?
Do other team members besides the principal user access it and record information on it?
List the kinds of reports you regularly analyse to do your work? (Up to 5 items)
What information would be helpful to you if it were readily available? (Up to 5 items)
On a scale of 1-10, with ten representing your database gives you everything you need to grow your organisation, how would you rate your database activities?
Explain why you chose this number. Then make a prioritised list of elements you would like to see improve in your database below.

KEY EVENTS

Do you organise events as part of your annual calendar? If so, please name your key ones (in person and online – up to ten events - state which are online)

	Name of the Event	Function of Event	Online?
Event 1
Event 2
Event 3
Event 4
Event 5
Event 6
Event 7
Event 8
Event 9
Event 10

Are any of these events specifically development-oriented? If so, please list which and if they are aimed at existing donors, new donors, or both.
Do you have an events team/person?
Number of full-time?
Number of part-time?
Thank you for filling this out. It is the start of creating a comprehensive picture of your organisation's financial situation from which we will be able to discuss points of improvement.
Should be Empty:

DEVELOPMENT AUDIT

STRATEGIC PLANNING

COMMUNICATIONS

FUNDRAISING

FUNDRAISING: Part 2

DATABASE MANAGEMENT

KEY EVENTS