Children’s Crainiofacial Association (CCA)
Coordinating and changing culture at Children’s Craniofacial Association
Children’s Craniofacial Association (CCA) provides valuable support for people and families with facial differences. Because they serve a critical mission, they needed to have a formal development plan to guide their national fundraising. CCA depended on peer-to-peer fundraising and external events. As such, they needed a comprehensive plan that incorporated what worked for them but focused new attention on relationship-based fundraising.
Our perspective:
M. Gale knew it was important to review current fundraising efforts and results before making fresh recommendations. Luckily, we were able to bring previous experience with CCA to the table, like coaching and facilitating two board retreats. Our M. Gale consultant also brought national experience to support CCA’s national fundraising needs.
How we solved the challenge:
M. Gale assessed CCA’s types of fundraising initiatives. We reviewed what’s working well, what needed help, and how much the organization was investing in development.
We also assessed their donors and identified possible areas of greater opportunity with existing donors.
A written development plan was created, with an overview of the potential for growth in funding and five key strategies for growth as well as fundraising approaches and goals for a variety of audiences.
CCA saw a 47% increase in revenue in the year-end appeal letter, with help from M. Gale.
New regional focus and expansion resulted in new donor meetings as well as the continuation of a third-party event that was at risk of being canceled. A focus on donor relationships has been helping the agency understand donor motivations and planned giving in new ways.
Our client’s outcome:
“M. Gale has been a partner to CCA for several years now. With an understanding of our mission, familiarity with our board and staff, and unique fundraising landscape as our service clients are also our donors, they have helped CCA focus on relational fundraising and broadening our donor base. We keep learning more and more as we implement the plan. We have seen success by working the plan, not only in direct results with increased revenue and donor retention, but also in our board’s understanding of how we are fundraising intentionally and strategically, not just waiting on opportunities to fall in our laps!”
