Meeting the Moment: Refining Your Fundraising Tactics to Maximize Sustainability & Impact
- Kristin Raack
- May 6
- 1 min read
At the South Side Strong Summit, hosted by the Office of Civic Engagement at the University of Chicago on May 7, 2025, nonprofit and community leaders gathered to share strategies for strengthening organizations, building connections, and deepening impact. Kristin Raack’s breakout session, "Meeting the Moment: Refining Your Fundraising Tactics to Maximize Sustainability & Impact," offered a practical, step-by-step approach to making fundraising both strategic and sustainable.
Her framework guided participants through six essential steps:
Conduct an Environmental Scan: Use PESTLE, SWOT, or SOAR to understand external factors and internal readiness. Ask: What’s happening in the external environment that will impact us?
Review Historic Data & Wellness Check: Look at sources of funds, donor types, retention rates, and program sustainability. Use the Dual Bottom Line Matrix to assess mission impact + financial health.
Step into Donor/Funder Shoes: Plot programs by mission impact & financial sustainability. Consider environmental factors, fundraising history, and internal capacity.
Define Priorities, Objectives & Metrics: Choose focus areas and set SMARTIE objectives. Track key metrics like ROI, donor retention, and lifetime value.
Document the Plan: Create a written fund development plan as your roadmap.
Review & Refine Regularly: Check progress often, adjust tactics, and keep the plan responsive to change.
Kristin’s approach moves fundraising from a reactive necessity to a proactive, mission-driven discipline. By combining data analysis, donor empathy, clear priorities, and continuous refinement, nonprofits can:
Strengthen financial sustainability
Deepen donor relationships
Maximize mission impact
Stay agile in a shifting environment
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