Business Name (DBA): Communication Mark
Business Address:          233 Tampa Circle, Arden, North Carolina 28704-3170
Business Phone:            828-650-0902
Email:                         info@communicationmark.com
Website:                     www.communicationmark.com
Principal:                     Mark Goldstein

Categories of service:

Board Development
Communication and Marketing
Consultants
Executive Coaching
Fundraising and Philanthropic Development
Grantwriters
Organizational Development
Program Development
Program Evaluation
Research
Speakers
Strategic Planning
Writers/Writing Services

Description of services:

We define our success in terms of outcomes: how much we help people change their communities. Our fundraising and organizational development services are guided by an innovative 10-step system, the Open Communication™ Fundraising Cycle, which has proven success with all sizes of organizations and all types of causes.

We do more than make recommendations. While we are not on your payroll as employees, we bring you our full dedication and commitment -- just like a valued member of your staff. And, while meeting your immediate fundraising needs, we help you develop strategic plans to ensure your organization’s longevity.
 
Often, one of our initial services is to help nonprofits identify any longstanding obstacles to success that remain unique to their organizations. Then we create and implement enduring solutions by providing the appropriate “fund-amental” services: 

Grant Proposals - Save time and money by utilizing our proposal writing expertise. We build your fundraising capacity by preparing proposals on your behalf. You may choose to learn and implement our trademarked system for obtaining grants. Organizations that fully utilize our system are successful with two out of every three proposals.
 
Major Gifts - Increase your organization’s ability to attract larger individual and corporate gifts and stabilize your funding cycle. Our proven system for obtaining major gifts provides you with successful solicitation tools; board and volunteer training; prospect research; and strategies for donor recruitment and retention.

Planning - Avoid the “fundraising death spiral” of repeatedly rushing from a great idea to an urgent fundraising opportunity. Work with us to carefully craft a 12-to-24 month plan for a successful comprehensive campaign or to develop a promising project. Obtain data to demonstrate core needs and articulate winning strategies that address these needs.

Sponsorship Strategies - Ensure that your projects are effectively funded. We develop sponsorship proposals that address the marketing needs of your prospects using cause-related marketing strategies. We also train your volunteers to identify, contact and successfully solicit corporate gifts.

Donor Relations – Retain loyal supporters—your most valuable asset. Our understanding of donor expectations helps your organization implement strategies that sustain and increase giving.

Organizational Development - Create internal and external communication systems that coordinate board and staff efforts. Design coherent work plans to increase, improve or diversify your fundraising. 

Fundraising Research - Benefit from our research databases and tools, which will identify foundation, corporation and government prospects that support your funding needs. Background research on top donors, and their connections with foundations and corporations, is available.

Donor Communications - Incorporate keys to donor communication into your fundraising mechanisms. Use our expertise to grow your prospect list and maximize your fundraising potential. Most organizations lose 85-95% of their donor base every five years. Buck this trend by ensuring that your results are evaluated, documented and then properly sent back to donors.

At Communication Mark, we enjoy sharing our resources to help ensure your success. We look forward to your inquiry.

Background on you and/or your business:

CEO Mark Goldstein has consistently served nonprofits as a staff member, board member or consultant since 1991. At Communication Mark he formulates creative project strategies, directs project and grant research, and edits proposals. He has raised millions for nonprofits of all types, sizes and locales (in April ’09 alone, the firm secured nearly $1-million in grants for two nonprofits outside its North Carolina base).

Mark has taught case statement writing in the Duke University Nonprofit Management Program and has published over 225 professional articles. He is a board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Western North Carolina Chapter. His volunteerism has included cycling to help combat HIV/AIDS and playing a lead role in founding a public access television station.

“The most rewarding part of our work is knowing that the grant proposals we write ultimately benefit people in need,” he says. “But it’s equally important to help nonprofits strategize for long-term success. We do it by promoting stewardship, growth and service through communications.”

It’s not surprising that Mark chose this profession. “When I was a kid, I wanted to open an information store. I pictured myself in a booth, like Lucy in Peanuts. But instead of providing psychiatric help, I’d help people find answers.”

A communicator and a helper, right from the start.

Testimonials and/or references:

"We raised over $1M in grants with Mark's guidance and expertise. There is no one better to work with in the field of grant writing." - Chris Comeaux, President/CEO, Four Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care, Hendersonville, NC

"I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Mark for over a year and have found him to a consummate professional, passionate about his work and fully committed to educating, advancing and serving his diverse group of clients. Mark and his company provide unparalleled expertise in proposal and grant writing, but more importantly, do so within a proprietary framework that creates more effective results and greater value for their clients. Without hesitation, I recommend Mark and Communication Mark."  - Brad Shaffer, CEO, Parallax Ventures, Inc.

"We worked closely with Communications Mark to help us prepare a $150,000 grant request to the Kresge Foundation. Their participation and expertise were essential to our final proposal, and we ended up receiving $300,000 from the foundation. Their understanding of what makes a grant request stand out to foundations is remarkable." - Nigel E. Allen, VP, Gift & Estate Planning, Covenant Hospice, Pensacola, FL

Names of and/or links to your books, articles or blogs:

www.Communicationmark.com
http://www.grassrootsfundraising.org/article.php?story=consultant_corner_may09_mark_goldstein

Service area by country, state or zip code:

United States