Our Services
Comprehensive oversight for every phase of your capital project
DonorsShield services can be engaged before a project begins, during active construction, or after completion for forensic review.
Our flexible engagement models ensure you receive the right level of oversight at the right time—whether you're evaluating a campaign commitment, monitoring an ongoing build, or conducting a post-project analysis.
Pre-Project Forensic Budget & Feasibility Review
Validate project costs before you commit
Before you approve a capital campaign or sign a major gift commitment, DonorsShield conducts a comprehensive forensic review of project budgets and feasibility studies.
- Benchmark project costs against similar nonprofit and institutional projects
- Identify padded line items, unrealistic assumptions, and hidden contingencies
- Evaluate project delivery method (CM-at-risk, design-build, cost-plus, GMP)
- Assess fundraising feasibility and phasing options
- Provide a clear go/no-go recommendation with risk assessment
Contract & Fee Structure Optimization
Align incentives and minimize risk
Contract structures can make or break a project's financial discipline. We review and optimize GC, architect, and consultant contracts to protect donor interests.
- Review general contractor and architect contracts for unfavorable terms
- Analyze fee structures, contingencies, allowances, and escalation clauses
- Recommend contract modifications that minimize misaligned incentives
- Ensure change order processes include appropriate donor oversight gates
- Negotiate payment milestone structures tied to verified work completion
Active Construction Oversight
Real-time monitoring and accountability
During construction, DonorsShield provides ongoing monitoring of spending, change orders, scope creep, and schedule adherence.
- Monitor invoices and payment applications for accuracy and completeness
- Validate that billed work matches actual progress on site
- Review and approve (or challenge) change orders before execution
- Track schedule impacts and risk accrual in real time
- Conduct site visits and progress assessments as needed
- Escalate issues to donors and boards before they become crises
Donor Confidence Reports
Transparent, accessible project updates
Our signature reporting framework provides donors, boards, and endowment committees with clear, dashboard-style visibility into project health.
- Quarterly or monthly report packages tailored to donor needs
- Visual dashboards showing budget vs. actual, forecast at completion, and variance analysis
- Narrative explaining key risks, mitigation actions, and confidence levels
- Project milestone tracking with clear completion criteria
- Change order summaries with impact assessment
- Executive summary suitable for board presentations
Post-Project Analysis & Lessons Learned
Capture insights for future campaigns
After project completion (or at key milestones), DonorsShield conducts a forensic review of final costs and outcomes to inform future governance.
- Forensic review of final project costs vs. original budget
- Identification of savings opportunities captured or missed
- Assessment of contract performance and delivery team effectiveness
- Documentation of lessons learned for future capital projects
- Governance framework recommendations for institutional improvement
Engagement Models
Fixed-Fee Pre-Project Review
One-time engagement to review budgets, feasibility studies, and contracts before you commit. Ideal for donors evaluating major gift opportunities.
Ongoing Oversight Retainer
Monthly or quarterly retainer for continuous construction monitoring and Donor Confidence Reporting throughout the project lifecycle.
Special Assignment
Targeted engagement for specific needs such as change order audits, contract disputes, or forensic post-project analysis.