Below are details on current and past projects and outcomes of our work with clients. Please reach out if you have any questions.
Partners of the Americas
Since the 1960s, Partners of the Americas has led lasting solutions to the Western hemisphere’s toughest challenges, from food insecurity and climate challenges to tackling environmental issues and educational inequities. In early 2024, Partners sought guidance to help expand its funding beyond the deep base of government support it secures each year. We worked with staff leadership to create an 18-month development plan; a case for support; conduct prospect research; and identify strategies for a more robust development operation to raise private charitable donations. We also guided hiring which led to a Sr. Director of Development joining the organization. We continue to work with Partners to provide board and staff training, executive coaching, and prospect research services.
Elizabeth Dole Foundation
Since its founding, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation has been providing direct support to military and veteran caregivers and their families, advocating for their well-being, and leading efforts to build community among these vital members of the military community. With many opportunities to expand fundraising and provide additional services, in 2023 we began working with EDF to conduct an audit to review and analyze current and past fundraising results and tactics. We conducted staff and stakeholder interviews to gather insight on fundraising activities, reviewed board and leadership engagement, assessed staffing and the organization’s development infrastructure and provided coaching and strategy to help the team expand support from top potential donors. We continue to provide grant writing and research services as they’ve expanded their team and operations.
Center for Policing Equity
In 2019, Focus created a development strategy and implementation plan for the Center for Policing Equity, a criminal justice reform organization focused on measuring racism in policing and working to equip law enforcement and communities to address racial bias systematically. To help it achieve its goals, we also conducted prospect research, planned and executed donor cultivation events, and led messaging efforts to create a funder deck, brochure, and impact reports for donors. By the end of 2019, we helped CPE hire its first fundraising staff member and raised $2.1M in additional funds.
In mid-2020, after the murder of George Floyd, we worked closely with CPE providing guidance, support, and systems as CPE raised more than $50M in funding. We continued working with CPE through April 2023, providing fundraising strategy, prospect research, grant writing, and messaging support.
Council of Korean Americans
Focus worked 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.
Additionally, our work advising senior leadership on a major gift campaign led to $1.2M in funding. And, we advised on corporate sponsorship solicitations for two annual galas and helped build CKA’s institutional giving program. We also 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 an understanding of and increase donations from this critical group of supporters. The project included data analysis to identify top prospects and donors with the 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
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 its income, develop its case for support, research prospective donors, create effective development plans, and work with board and leadership committees. As part of our engagement, we led quarterly group Learning Labs as well as 1:1 consulting and in-depth prospect research training for each group. We also conducted prospect research on funders that support reproductive and gender justice and provided coaching to help staff prioritize outreach and cultivation efforts.
LearnServe International
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.
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