Engaging Supporters

Approaches that have worked in the past don’t always resonate in the same way over time. We help organizations review and refine specific donor, sponsor, or partnership opportunities—whether long-standing or newly formed—to better reflect current interests, expectations, and local context.

The result is a focused set of clearly defined opportunities, a stronger sense of who is most likely to engage, and practical guidance on how to approach potential supporters in ways that stand out and feel considered—especially in a landscape shaped by online request forms and competing appeals.

Companies and community partners engage for different reasons—ranging from business growth and visibility to community impact and shared outcomes. We help organizations navigate these differences, identifying where alignment exists, and shaping sponsorship or partnership opportunities accordingly.

Rather than leading with generic proposals, our approach focuses on understanding what potential partners are most likely to support based on their priorities. This includes guidance on which doors to knock on, how opportunities are structured and priced for your market, and when partnership—not funding—may be the most meaningful way to advance your mission.

Thoughtfully designed fundraising campaigns bring focus to individual donor engagement while easing the workload on staff and board members—especially during time-bound efforts like GivingTuesday or year-end appeals. Our support may focus on a single campaign or help shape a small set of donor initiatives throughout the year, combining clear storytelling, targeted outreach, and a strong call to action.

Just as important is what happens after a campaign concludes. We help organizations strengthen stewardship by putting the right follow-up in place—ensuring donors are thanked, informed about impact, and re-engaged through thoughtful communication. When done well, campaigns do more than raise dollars. They strengthen processes and deepen relationships.

Many people who deeply value an organization’s mission—board members, volunteers, and staff alike—don’t see themselves as fundraisers. Often that hesitation comes from past experiences where they felt cornered and participated under duress.

Our approach to engagement strategy, coaching, and training is grounded in sharing what we’ve learned through real-world examples. We walk through case studies in detail, explain how effective engagement efforts are structured, and help teams think more clearly about who is most appropriate to approach and why. As we often say, we can’t promise you’ll get a yes—but we can promise you won’t be embarrassed. That confidence comes from having the right strategies in place before anyone reaches out.

This work may involve coaching an entire group or providing focused guidance to a single leader. Either way, the goal is to equip people with practical, personalized strategies—ones that don’t come from a template or checklist—and to create an engagement process where passion for the mission is supported by clarity, alignment, and shared understanding.