Discover exactly where you’re leaving money on the table.
Our comprehensive gift planning program audits reveal the hidden gaps in your gift planning program—and provide a clear, actionable roadmap to capture the gifts you’re missing.
Trusted Perspectives
“Our team at Phoenix Children’s worked with Heaton Smith on a gift planning audit and strategic reset for our program. The Heaton Smith engagement was thorough and insightful, and was the reset we needed to create a path for robust growth in this sector of our program over the past 2 years. The Heaton Smith team is professional, knowledgeable and understands the power of a great partnership with their clients.”
Actionable insights that drive meaningful results.
Current state assessment
Comprehensive evaluation of your existing program’s strengths and vulnerabilities to help you understand exactly where you stand today.
Stakeholder perspectives
In-depth interviews with staff, board members, and donors to gather multiple viewpoints and uncover hidden opportunities and challenges.
Actionable recommendations
Get specific, prioritized recommendations with training to begin implementation—ensuring you can make meaningful change.
Turn hidden potential into measurable results
Gift planning program audit components
Current state assessment: A complete, multi-dimensional picture of where you are now
Program review descriptions: Detailed analysis of each program component
Stakeholder interviews: Staff, board, and donor perspectives
Recommendations: Prioritized, actionable steps with expected outcomes
Training: Initial education to begin implementation
What to expect from your gift planning audit
We conduct thorough document reviews, confidential staff interviews, data analysis, donor interviews, and comparative analysis. The process typically takes four to five months and includes onsite visits or virtual sessions to understand your culture and operations.
Key stakeholders, including CEO/executive director, CDO, vice president for advancement, board members, gift officers, and select donors. Broad participation ensures comprehensive insights and buy-in for recommendations.
Our recommendations are prioritized and phased. We identify quick wins you can implement immediately alongside longer-term strategic initiatives, ensuring steady progress without overwhelming your team.