Nonprofit Fundraising: Leveraging 20-Year Milestones
On the brink of celebrating two decades of impactful storytelling and advocacy, a leading advocacy organization based out of Washington DC faced a pivotal moment.
They set an ambitious goal to increase their annual fundraising revenue by 1.5x while addressing a critical need to diversify their donor base. With a large portion of their funding tied to foundations and institutional partners, shifts in the philanthropic landscape underscored the urgency to bolster individual giving.
In came Barakah Group. Tasked with navigating these challenges, we conducted a comprehensive fundraising audit, providing an external lens to uncover hidden opportunities. The analysis revealed untapped major gifts potential within their existing donor base, as well as significant capacity for planned giving. Our findings highlighted that nearly half of their donors were ideal candidates for legacy giving, a promising yet underdeveloped area in their fundraising strategy.
Building on these insights, we collaborated with the Executive Director and their executive board to reshape their development operations. Together, we:
Restructured their organizational chart to formalize a multi-program fundraising approach, including grassroots giving, major gifts, and a newly launched legacy giving program.
Facilitated the creation of a Development Committee within the executive board to provide strategic oversight and major gift support.
Supported staff transitions and strengthened internal capacity to ensure long-term sustainability.
The result? Our client has been retooled and reenergized. Armed with a clear strategy, an optimized donor CRM system, and an invigorated base of supporters, the organization is poised to sustainably meet their higher fundraising targets and deepen its impact. With a forward-looking approach and consistent collaboration, they are ready to chart the next 20 years of their mission-driven journey, transforming philanthropy into sustainable impact.
