Essentials of Development 2027 Application

  • Essentials of Development 2027 Application

  • Thank you for your interest in our 2027 Essentials of Development program. In the next several weeks, we will consider candidates for this next cohort of organizations. The first step is for you to respond to the questions below. The application will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. To see an overview of the entire application, click here.

    Please note that applications should save with each completed page. If you pause in filling out the application partway through, please be advised that the answers on any incomplete page may not save. However, answers you have entered on completed pages should remain intact.

    For your information, here is a link to the Essentials of Development page as a reminder of the purpose of the training. Please contact the Essentials program manager, Sarah Ruckle, if you have any questions in the process of completing this application.


    Please complete this application by Friday, July 17, 2026.


    We look forward to learning more about you and your organization!

  • Organizational Eligibility

  • Organizations that meet the following eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply:

    • Organizations should be from the Pacific Northwest region (OR, WA, AK, MT, ID, British Columbia) or be national groups with a strong regional presence in our area. Although the Essentials of Development training program is not connected to our grant process, grantees working in the five sectors we serve (Artistic & Cultural Expression; Civic Engagement & Community Services; Health & Environmental Stewardship; Education & Leadership Development; Scientific Research) will be given priority in consideration for this program.
    • Organizations that tend to benefit most from the training are often those:
      • With annual budgets of over $250K
      • Currently raising between $5K and $1M in contributed income from individual donors.

  • Application/Organization Information

  • Applicant Contact Information

  • Format: (000) 000-0000.
  • Format: (000) 000-0000.

  • Organizational Information

  • Format: (000) 000-0000.

  • Organizational Financial Context

  • Do you have a paid development staff person(s)?*

  • Program Interest

  • How did you hear about the Essentials of Development Program?*

  • Program Attendance Expectations

  • Program participation requires mandatory attendance of the Executive Director and two board members from your organization at both training sessions: January 25-26, 2027 and May 17-18, 2027.

    Note: Our strong encouragement is that the same individuals attend both sessions and that the two board members be your board chair and/or another board member that will partner with you in major donor development.

    If you have a Development Director, we would allow you to bring them as a fourth participant -- the Executive Director, Development Director, and two board members.

  • In addition to the Executive Director, can you commit to getting two board members from your organization to join you at both training sessions: January 25-26, 2027 and May 17-18, 2027?*

  • Additional Information

  • Application Timeline

    • Completed applications are due on or before Friday, July 17, 2026.
    • After the application window closes, submitted applications will be reviewed. Select applicants will be invited to interview in late July and August.
    • Cohort decisions will be made and communicated in late August or early September.


    Program Dates

    • Session 1 (January 25-26, 2027) and Session 2 (May 17-18, 2027) are held in person at the Vancouver Hilton. Note: The same 3-4 participants from Session 1 are anticipated to attend Session 2.
    • After Session 2, your coach will arrange an in-person site visit with your organization. All coaching costs are covered by the program fee.

    Program Fee

    The cost is $900 per organization, which includes hotel stay and meals for both sessions, all program materials, access to the Windshield fundraising software, 8 hours of virtual personalized coaching before and between the sessions, followed by 8 hours of in-person personalized coaching after the second session.

     

    Thank you for your interest in the Essentials of Development program!

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