Before & After
People instantly understand transformation.
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| Teams working in silos | Cross-functional fundraising strategy |
| Inconsistent fundraising processes | Repeatable systems and SOPs |
| Reactive planning | Clear annual operating roadmap |
| Transactional donor stewardship | Intentional donor pipeline |
| Event-focused sponsorships | Strategic corporate partnerships |
| Staff overwhelmed by complexity | Clear priorities and accountability |
Case Study 1
Turning a Declining Peer-to-Peer Event into a Growth Engine
The Challenge
A long-standing peer-to-peer fundraising event had plateaued. Participation was declining, donor excitement was fading, and the traditional event model no longer reflected how supporters wanted to engage.
My Approach
Rather than trying to revive an aging model, I worked with leadership to reimagine the entire experience. We designed and launched a completely new endurance-based fundraising event that appealed to a different audience while staying true to the organization's mission.
- Building the fundraising strategy from scratch
- Recruiting volunteer leaders and participants
- Creating sponsorship opportunities
- Developing operational systems and participant communications
- Coordinating marketing, logistics, stewardship, and field staff
The Outcome
The inaugural event exceeded its fundraising goal by 36%, continued to outperform expectations over the following two years, attracted a national corporate partner, and created an entirely new revenue stream that expanded the organization's donor pipeline.
Case Study 2
Rebuilding Mid-Level Donor Strategy
The Challenge
Thousands of loyal donors giving between $1,000 and $10,000 annually were receiving the same communications as general annual fund donors. They weren't being cultivated for larger gifts or deeper engagement.
My Approach
I designed a dedicated stewardship strategy that treated these supporters as relationship donors instead of transactional donors.
- Personalized stewardship journeys
- Affinity-based communications
- Exclusive cultivation events
- Better coordination between annual giving and major gifts
- Clear movement through the donor pipeline
The Outcome
Donor retention increased by more than 40%, stronger relationships were built across the portfolio, and the organization established a scalable pathway for future major gift development.
Case Study 3
Creating Clarity Across a National Field Team
The Challenge
A geographically distributed fundraising team was operating with inconsistent processes, varying expectations, and little shared infrastructure. Staff were working hard but often reinventing the wheel.
My Approach
Rather than simply asking people to work differently, I focused on building systems that made success repeatable.
- Standard operating procedures
- KPI dashboards
- Team accountability rhythms
- CRM documentation standards
- Cross-functional collaboration between development, finance, marketing, and operations
- Training and coaching for managers
The Outcome
The organization gained a consistent operating framework across dozens of markets, improved visibility into performance, reduced duplication of effort, and positioned the field program for sustainable long-term growth.
Case Study 4
Expanding Corporate Partnerships Beyond Event Sponsorship
The Challenge
Corporate relationships were largely transactional, focused on sponsoring individual fundraising events rather than building long-term partnerships.
My Approach
I developed a multi-year partnership strategy that aligned corporate goals with mission impact.
- Employee engagement
- Community involvement
- Event sponsorship
- Cause marketing
- Educational programming
- Multi-year commitments
The Outcome
The organization secured a three-year partnership valued between $150,000 and $250,000 annually, creating a diversified relationship that delivered both revenue and community engagement well beyond traditional sponsorship.
Case Study 5
Scaling National Field Operations
The Challenge
As a national fundraising program expanded, leaders needed greater visibility into performance while empowering local teams to succeed.
My Approach
I helped establish a tiered market strategy that prioritized investment based on opportunity rather than geography.
- Market segmentation
- Revenue forecasting
- Staffing alignment
- Performance metrics
- Strategic expansion planning
- Resource allocation
The Outcome
Leadership gained a clearer roadmap for growth, allowing the organization to invest where impact would be greatest while creating more realistic expectations for every market.