Organizations applying to become participants in the PIP Program must have / be:

1. A New Jersey Certificate of Incorporation and written By-Laws for the organization. (These should be attached to the PIP application form.)

2. Currently registered with the State of New Jersey's Charitable Registration Office, or be in the process of registering. (If in the process, a copy of completed forms should be attached to the application.)

3. Currently qualified by the Internal Revenue Service to receive charitable contributions that are tax deductible for Federal income tax purposes and have a Federal Employer Identification Number issued by the IRS.

4. A minimum of three (3) years of continuous operation.

5. A Board-approved annual operating budget, a submitted IRS 990 form and / or an annual audited financial statement or compilation. (These should be attached to the PIP application form.)

6. A Board of Directors of at least six (6) official members, excluding staff members of the organization. (A Board list with names and professional affiliations should be attached to the PIP application form.)

7. A minimum of four Board meetings per year.

8. A least one (1) full-time professional staff member and the equivalent of one (1) other administrative/development staff person (or a volunteer-designee to fill the role of PIP-Client Liaison.)

9. Board approval to apply and understand the responsibilities involved in a consultancy.

PIP reserves the right to accept only organizations that when assessed by PIP can best benefit from PIP's services and cannot afford a fundraising consultant.

Additional Services:
PIP will consider applications for special projects on a case-by-case basis. The price structure for these services will be individually determined.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ORGANIZATIONS SELECTED TO RECEIVE CONSULTING SERVICES

EACH ORGANIZATION WILL BE ASKED TO:

1. Sign a contract with PIP and pass a Resolution or motion concerning their participation in PIP at the special or regularly scheduled Board meeting where the Assessment Report is presented.  The resolution/motion should state that Board members understand and will support the organization's commitment to providing enough staff time to implement the PIP recommendations.  It should also indicate that the Board is willing to devote significant time and energy to working with the PIP consultant and various aspects of the fund raising process.  Time commitment from Board and staff is necessary in order for the PIP relationship to succeed.  

2. Provide at least one Board and one staff person who will serve as the "point" persons  for the PIP program and will work directly with the PIP consultant in implementing a mutually agreed upon work plan for the consultancy.  The staff person should be able to devote at least 50 percent of his/her time to fund raising activities -- i.e. working with the consultant to develop and implement a fund raising plan.   The Board member will need to take an active role in designated aspects of the fundraising effort and will enlist the assistance of other Board members, as appropriate.  Some support staff or volunteer time will also be required.

3. Participate in the Fund Raising Capacity Assessment.  Several key Board members, the Executive Director and other appropriate staff and volunteers will need to participate in the Assessment.  Staff will attend several meetings on this topic.  Board members will be expected to attend a minimum of one 2-hour meeting.

4. Devote at least 1-1/2  hours of a meeting of the full Board to a verbal report of the Fundraising Capacity Assessment and the discussion of the PIP consultant's recommendations for increasing the organization's fundraising capacity.

5. Dedicate at least one hour of another Board meeting to discussion and approval of the annual fund raising program plan and the long-range resource development strategies developed by PIP and the organization's Development Committee.

6. Have the Executive Director and the designated point person/Board President check in monthly by phone, fax or e-mail with PIP's Executive Director to discuss the progress of the consultancy.

7. Send Board members and the Executive Director and/or the development or financial officer to three mandatory workshops: The Basics of Fundraising, The Role of the Board and Board/Staff Relations and Toolkit for Strengthening Your Accounting Procedures. .  These workshops are scheduled during business hours or on weekends.