Board Training

Boards are in place to govern, though subject to the evolution and needs of the organization may take on various levels of involvement which encroach upon management and operations. S. Sutton and Associates provides training for Boards in governance and leadership, core duties and roles, the Chief Executive’s mandate, techniques to build strong relationships with the Chief Executive, management and evaluation of the Chief Executive’s performance and succession planning.

Board Management

The mechanics to properly manage meetings and committees, prepare reports and communications, update bylaws and facilitate the fiduciary responsibilities of the Board, require technical expertise and diplomacy to assure all run smoothly. S. Sutton and Associates takes a hand on approach to train staff assuring structure, process and products support the success of the Board.

Program Review, Upgrade and Pipeline-Building

Program review, staffing and revenue and expense analysis along with data analytics and segmentation are key to developing strategies to acquire new annual donors, steward and retain current donors, and upgrade donors to higher levels of giving. S. Sutton & Associates Inc. has the technical expertise work with your team to maximize your potential. Program review include on-site visits, comprehensive review of materials, annual giving data, and in-depth analysis of specific program area such as: leadership and mid-level programs, reunion/class agent programs, volunteer engagement, direct marketing (mail, phone programs and online giving), social media strategy, young alumni and student philanthropy, parent giving, faculty/staff campaigns, grateful patient programs, recognition/stewardship of annual donors; and integration of annual giving and alumni/constituent relations.

Program Review, Recommendations and Implementation

S. Sutton and Associates’ consultants conduct an analysis that identifies strengths, gaps, and challenges of the Alumni Relations program and present initial recommendations.

This is a rigorous analysis of structure, alumni events, programming and activities, metrics, resources and historical performance. This may also include alumni surveys, and data analytics to improve understanding of the alumni base and how to segment and engage them most effectively.

Potential areas to explore include affinity programs, alumni board management, alumni engagement, class and reunion programs, communications, marketing and social medial effectiveness, diversity programs, international programs, regional programs, strategic planning, student programming, volunteer management and young alumni programs.

Following report delivery, S. Sutton & Associates Inc. are available to institutional or Alumni Relations’ leadership to assist in implementation of recommendations.

Functional Area Expertise

The functional areas of advancement operations are highly technical. Our experienced and expert consultants in these functional areas are well equipped to provide guidance and support in the following areas:

• Donor centric stewardship operations to maintain and enhance relationships.
• Prospect management and tracking – review of the prospect pool, evaluation of gift capacity, target ask amounts and assignment to gift officers.
• Gift officer workflow and productivity.
• Back-office operations such as gift processing, counting, receipting and acknowledgement.
• Revenue tracking and reporting.
• Selection, design, and implementation of integrated fundraising software platforms and systems for fundraising.
• Management of database records to improve operational efficiencies and reduce overhead costs.
• Standard reports inventory to introduce cost-effective solutions and eliminate ad-hoc requests.