FUNDRAISING PLANNING FOR IMMEDIATE REVENUE GAINS

This private school for students with learning differences received substantial public funding but was struggling to raise private dollars with no clear strategy for direct mail, events, and foundation grants. Our partner Katherine DeFoyd engaged Celebrate the Children’s board members and key staff in a 12-month process to develop a timeline-based fundraising plan with strategies, goals, measurable objectives, and clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and tasks. Using WealthEngine, we identified 75+ major donor prospects, many of whom had been unknown to staff, and ranked and rated them in a plan for cultivation and asks. Thanks to our partnership, the school’s income jumped 30 to 60 percent for each of its fundraising activities, and staff reported greater job satisfaction as their work became more focused, directed, and effective.