Projects - Focus Fundraising

Below are details on current and past projects and outcomes of our work with clients. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Policing Equity

In early 2019, Focus began a consulting project with the Center for Policing Equity, a racial justice and public safety reform organization working with communities and law enforcement to measure, address and end racism in policing. To help CPE achieve its fundraising goals, we created a development plan, conducted prospect research, planned and executed donor cultivation events, and led messaging efforts for donor materials. By the end of 2019, CPE raised $2.1M in additional support.

In mid-2020, as protests erupted after the murder of George Floyd, we worked closely with the CPE development team providing guidance and support as they raised more than $50M in funding from 23,000 new donors. In 2021, we continue advising CPE as they expand their development department and deepen their fundraising efforts.

Council of Korean Americans

In 2016, Focus began working with CKA, the leading organization dedicated to advancing the national voice and influence of the Korean American community through collaboration and leadership development. We created a development plan, conducted prospect research, and crafted a case for support.

The following year, our work advising senior leadership on a major gift campaign led to $1.2M in funding. We also advised on corporate sponsorship solicitations for two annual galas and helped build their institutional giving program. In 2019, we provided fundraising guidance for their 501c4 organization, Korean Americans in Action, focused on advocacy and policy change.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

A nonprofit dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams, CBF sought an assessment of its mid-level giving program to gain understanding of and increase donations from this critical group of supporters. The project, conducted in 2018, included data analysis to identify top prospects and donors with potential for increased support, defining cultivation and stewardship opportunities to deepen donors’ commitment, and detailed program growth potential over three years.

After implementing our strategies, CBF saw a 55% increase in mid-level giving from an additional 32% in donors at that level and received 25% more gifts than over the previous year.

UN Foundation

In 2017, Focus partnered with Joan Wood & Co. to work with the UN Foundation’s Universal Access Project on a year-long fundraising training program for a cohort of nine sexual and reproductive health and rights nonprofits. The project was aimed at helping each organization diversify their income, develop their case for support, research prospective donors, create effective development plans, and work with board and leadership committees. We also led quarterly group Learning Labs as well as 1:1 consulting and in-depth prospect research training for each group.

In 2021, we worked with UAP again, this time conducting prospect research on funders that support reproductive justice and gender justice and providing coaching to help staff prioritize outreach and cultivation efforts.

LearnServe International

In 2019, we conducted a campaign feasibility study for LearnServe International, an organization that equips high school students from diverse backgrounds to tackle social challenges at home and abroad. As part of the study, we conducted interviews with key stakeholders; identified potential campaign leaders and principal donors; drafted the campaign case for support; and analyzed and reported data to help LearnServe make informed decisions on its direction. We also put together a timeline and report based on the study results that helped LearnServe move forward with its plans.