You might be familiar with the game Tetris®. Differently sized pieces are strategically moved and adjusted to fit before the next piece falls into place. Trying to coordinate calendars for donors, volunteers and nonprofit professionals can often feel like a puzzle, and requires a similar approach.
You can master the art of scheduling by keeping the following in mind:
Identify Key Players
Before calendars can be compared for scheduling a cultivation or solicitation meeting, evaluate who has been instrumental in bringing the potential donor closer to the organization so you can confirm who needs to be in attendance. It might be a volunteer, development staff member, head of the organization, board member or a combination of individuals. Also, determine if the donor has a family member or colleague who should be included as well.