Our Story

At Joan Wood & Company we think of ourselves as change agents. We fix problems, improve systems, help build development shops to support organizations that want to grow. We coach nonprofit leaders about development, mentor development professionals and train boards and development staff on fundraising best practices. We use fundraising best practices – and our expertise in fundraising process improvement – to provide uniquely-tailored coaching and training services.

We are expert presenters to CEOs, major donors, boards and fundraisers. We have 35+ years of development experience to guide nonprofits as they navigate an ever-changing fundraising landscape.

Fundraising. Strategy. Coaching.

Coaching NonProfit Leaders, Mentoring Development Professionals, Training NonProfit Boards & Staff.

Meet The Team

Fundraising is tough
on a good day.

Throw in a pandemic, social unrest and a volatile economy and it's harder than ever. Sign up for our Reset & Recover coaching program. Let us help you navigate these turbulent times.

About Us

We have all had to Pivot.

Several years ago we developed Pivot - a fundraising assessment tool designed to evaluate what’s working and what isn’t and help you create a roadmap to guide fundraising success.

Learn More

Ultimately, we help nonprofits raise more money – we teach them the tools to fundraise more effectively.

Coach. Mentor. Train.

Our Services

We tailor our services to meet the unique needs of our nonprofit clients.

Coaching Nonprofit Leaders

› Evaluate Fundraising Strategy & Tactics
› Analyze Performance Related Metrics
› Develop Case for Support & Donor Messaging
› Build a Fundraising & Engaged Board
› Use Advisory & Ancillary Boards in fundraising

Mentoring Development Professionals

› Create Actionable Development Plans
› Determine Strategies for Individual,   Foundation & Corporation Outreach
› Multi-Channel Segmentation & Targeting   Strategies
› Prospect Research & Wealth Screening
   Strategies
› Identify, Cultivate, Ask & Stewarding   Major Donors

Training Nonprofit Boards & Staff

› Board Engagement Strategies
› Recruitment & Orientation
› Improve Messaging & "Elevator Speech"
› Understanding which development KPIs matter

Testimonials

Folks like us, but what they really like is that their revenue increases after we help improve their development program.

"I just finished reading your final report thoroughly and just wanted you to know (from one consultant to another) that this is a really terrific assessment. It's thorough (amazing given your timetable), well written and (the best part) it is basically a practical road map for the new Devo Director to follow to get the devo house in order and build from there. "

"Joan Wood is an outstanding development consultant with a proven track record for helping nonprofits grow their organization. Her years of fundraising experience, vast knowledge of the industry, creativity, extensive skill set, network, and can-do attitude add up to success. I have personally very much enjoyed working with Joan and highly recommend her services! In fact, when my board asked me why our year-end giving was up by over 35%, I said it was because we followed Joan's sound advice!"

"Joan Wood is a sophisticated and savvy development professional who delivers immediate results and lays the foundation for years of long-range growth. She simultaneously provides high-level strategic direction while rolling up her sleeves to make things happen. She's smart, she has a great sense of humor, and she is exceptionally dedicated to making her client's vision a reality."

"I love your ideas and your solid reasoning behind things I had 'sort of felt' were the direction for us to head. Our executive director looked at your report and she is so impressed! I told her I knew all along that you were the woman for the job! … Thank you so much for bringing your expertise to lift our donor programs to a whole new level. As far as I’m concerned, the best resource in our fundraising toolbox is you."

"Joan possesses a rare combination of intellect, creativity and energy that makes her invaluable in moving a struggling development department to the next level. She’s incredibly strategic, insightful in her tactics and relentless in her attention to detail. Her ability to put it all together—long term organizational strategy, programmatic needs, funding environment, staff strengths and weaknesses, board and donor capacity—is almost magical. And I didn’t even mention what a great joy she is to work with."

"We had the pleasure of working with Joan and her expert team on an intensive, year-long, fund development capacity building initiative for our advocacy grantees. The training sessions were tailored to the specific cultivation challenges of each organization, and the whole group benefitted from the team’s diverse fundraising experience as they helped us craft and execute on our respective development plans. Their genuine passion for our issue and desire to see our group succeed was really appreciated!"

Covid

Data-Based Decision Making – 10.19.2021

As a self-described data geek, Joan was excited to present to the AFP NM Chapter on data-driven fundraising. This interactive session was designed to help

October 19, 2021

Covid

Coffee Conversations with Ginny Waller: Fundraising in 2021

A year into the Covid 19 Pandemic, Joan follow up discussion looking at what development professional should be doing now. The conversation look at the

September 2, 2021

Covid

Planned Giving Zoom 8.17.21

Joan facilitated a conversation with two planned giving professionals for the Seasoned Fundraisers Affinity Group of the AFP New Mexico Chapter. Bonnie McLeskey, Associate VP

August 17, 2021