CLIENT STORY · CHILDREN & YOUTH
Building a sustainable individual giving program
Collaboration for Early Childhood champions high-quality early care and learning in Oak Park, Illinois. AltruNext partnered with the organization to build an individual giving program and strengthen its fundraising capacity.
The challenge
As a backbone organization for more than 70 local partners, Collaboration for Early Childhood relied predominantly on local government funding. In 2015, its executive director saw an opportunity to grow individual giving.
With no development staff, the organization needed a partner to build an individual giving program from the ground up and create a more sustainable funding base.
Our approach
01 · Assess
Audit the organization and understand its place in the local philanthropic landscape.
02 · Plan
Create a Fund Development Plan to guide individual giving and annual fundraising priorities.
03 · Engage
Coach board members and partner with the Development Committee Chair to advance fundraising goals.
04 · Build capacity
Help leadership define its first Director of Development role and review candidates’ resumés.
A stronger foundation for individual giving
The partnership established twice-yearly mail appeals, year-round social campaigns, and annual fundraising and cultivation events. Donor retention exceeded the industry average.
70 → 200+
Individual annual donors
75%
Growth in annual fund giving, 2014–2020
128%
Growth in major donors giving $500+ annually
From the start, AltruNext approached its work with the Collaboration for Early Childhood with passion and wisdom, taking time to thoroughly understand our complex structure and unique development challenges.
​
Becki Streit
Chair, Board of Directors