In many nonprofit organizations, the resource development, or fund development, function has been cut off from the program power of the organization. For example, an agency will plan program activities, draft a budget and then, as if by some afterthought, tell someone in charge of fundraising what is the amount of the financial "gap" that will have to be obtained through fundraising. Another frequent example: certain board members are recruited and brought on the board because of their knowledge of or proximity to wealth. They are assigned to a "fundraising committee", with no connection to program, and are expected to solicit funds from other persons of means. Somehow fund development has been cut off from program, and even worse, from the mission and basic strategies of the organization. Our recommended approach here is to ground the fund development function firmly in the strategic base of the organization. It is, first of all, tied to the mission, vision, values and overall goals of the organization.

As we examine funding for our organization, make recommendations for funding and include your perspective on its reliability and autonomy. Please include in-text citations and references.