Consulting Case Studies

You can get a sense for the kinds of challenges/problems that clients have hired me for with the mini case studies below. In each case, I provided solutions that delivered immediate and valuable results that positioned each nonprofit for greater success with communications, fundraising and donor attraction efforts. 

Planning and launching a new Annual Fund Campaign.

Challenge: An events-driven nonprofit needed to begin building a robust individual giving program to better leverage the President’s fundraising potential for major gifts and engage more donors in regular annual giving.

Solutions: Included creation of an annual fund strategic plan, multi-channel communications calendar, matching gift sponsorship proposal, personal solicitation coaching and emails for the President, concept development/writing for website content/emails/social media posts/direct mailing, and support via email/phone.

Results: With campaign kick-off in November and with just 2 months of fundraising in November and December, I helped this nonprofit secure a $7,500 matching gift sponsor and nearly $20,000 in revenue from new and repeat donors.

Other results include guiding staff on creation of a new, higher-functioning database with a rating system for major gift solicitation; establishment of a new base of annual unrestricted donors; increased stewardship for all donors and stakeholders to build goodwill and higher potential for new/repeat/up-leveled future gifts; increased 1:1 cultivation of major gift prospects; increased knowledge about donors for future solicitations; and creation of a plethora of documents and communications that can be used on an ongoing basis.

Development of new donor thank you strategy, process and communications.

Challenge: A nonprofit had been using the same, tired thank you letter to acknowledge gifts and thank its donors. As a result, the charity was missing a huge opportunity to make strong emotional deposits with donors to build goodwill, attract repeat gifts and set the stage for effective solicitation of future major gifts.

Solutions: Included development of a comprehensive new strategy for thanking donors with 3 touch points (first letter sent within 2 business days, handwritten thank you note card from the President and a letter signed by a beneficiary) and writing of the first letter and beneficiary letter.

Results: One first-time $50 donor, after receiving the three thank you touch points, sent in a check for $1,000 one month later. This donor also gave again after that in response to an email for the campaign. And many other very touched and happy donors resulted too! All of the emotional deposits made via these thank you letters have resulted in increased goodwill that has positioned this nonprofit as a favorite in donors' minds. And that has high potential to result in increased success with the organization's next appeal.

Launch of a new holiday giving campaign.

Challenge: A nonprofit was ready to build an individual giving program but wasn’t quite ready to launch an annual fund campaign as year-end quickly approached.

Solutions: To leverage the popular giving time of the holidays and year-end, I helped this charity plan, manage and execute a holiday giving campaign. Deliverables included concept development, writing content for the website (home page slider and landing page) along with writing emails, a direct mail package, thank you letters and tribute cards. I also directed design of the website pages and a new set of specialty printed materials for the mailing including letterhead, carrier envelope, reply card and reply envelope.

Results: In November/December, the two months the campaign ran in, dozens of repeat and new donors responded to the appeal with gifts ranging from $1,000 to $25. 

Other results included helping this nonprofit uncover areas of operational weakness to address and overcome for future appeals; establishment of a new base of donors who've given annual unrestricted gifts, which positioned the charity successfully for launch of their annual fund the following year; consistent, donor-centered communications sent via a multi-channel marketing campaign allowing the charity to share stories and happenings as well as plenty of gratitude communications around the holidays and year-end; and increased insight on donors and their place on the giving continuum, which helps better inform what levels are appropriate for future appeals.

Creating a new monthly e-newsletter.

Challenge: A nonprofit wasn’t regularly sending helpful, interesting news to its donors, beneficiaries, friends and supporters. Other than posting information on their website, they didn’t have a communication platform in place to connect with people on its e-mail list to share stories, provide valuable content, encourage involvement and invite people to support the cause.

Solutions: After initial research and collaboration, I proposed and helped develop a name, format and content for a new monthly e-newsletter. Additionally, I was hired to research, suggest topics for and write articles for the e-newsletter on a monthly basis.

Results: This nonprofit now has a communication vehicle in which people on their e-mail list are regularly touched and inspired and engaged. Examples of some content created include stories of people affected/helped by the cause; reports from advocates in the field; fun, interactive articles like a quiz for people to take and receive a free gift; a listing of the top 20 ways that the charity appreciates its readers/supporters; timely, relevant news tied to the charity's mission at the holidays or for industry-specific events taking place; and a heart-tugging article encouraging people to consider making donations in honor of someone they love or in memory of someone gone but not forgotten.

This charity has given me feedback about the content I've created letting me know that they've had positive response from readers. In addition, I've received direct feedback from advocates/supporters who I've worked 1:1 with. One gentleman loved the story I wrote about him so much that he sent it to his children and grandchildren (and he forwarded me their lovely responses). This is one example of how a powerful story can make a strong emotional deposit with a donor and have potential to garner exponential interest and support for a cause. We won't know for awhile, but I suspect this gentleman will likely make a generous gift to the organization's upcoming holiday/year-end appeal, and his family may have the charity on their radar for a gift now, too.