Key Elements
- The National Urban League (NUL) needed to prepare its Affiliates with the tools needed to implement fundraising best practices at the local level.
- CCS partnered with NUL to design a customized coaching and support program that increased private year-over-year fundraising results by 46% in participating Affiliates.
How We Helped
The Challenge
The National Urban League is a human service organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in underserved urban communities. It supports the efforts of its 92 local Affiliates in 36 states and the District of Columbia. In order to create a sustainable movement, the National Urban League recognized the need for Affiliates to increase and diversify their funding base and focus on pursuing philanthropic dollars from private sources such as individuals, corporations, and foundations. This would allow them to continue to carry out vital programs in urban communities across America.
The Solution
CCS partnered with the National Urban League to design Project Rock, aimed at strengthening and diversifying Affiliate funding streams and increasing private funding. Initially piloted with a select number of Affiliates who received intensive coaching and support, the program later created the following permanent assets available to all Affiliates:
- Executive Fundraising Academy (EFA), a weekly virtual fundraising training curriculum and in-person workshops offered to Affiliate staff, leadership, and volunteers.
- Projectrock.org, a comprehensive website for Affiliates to share and review fundraising best practices and templates.
- Project Rock Hotline for Affiliates to call Monday through Friday to receive fundraising advice and discuss strategy.
The Impact
Project Rock helped increase the dollars raised in fundraising efforts at National Urban League Affiliates. Affiliates participating in the intensive pilot phase saw private year-over-year fundraising results increase by 46 percent.
More Case Studies
The Viscardi Center
Northeast US
The Viscardi Center re-engaged CCS for a feasibility study and campaign. In just over one year of a five-year campaign, The Viscardi Center has raised the $7.5 million working goal, and is now aiming for an increased goal of $10 million.
USA for IOM: Serving Emergent and Long-Term Global Needs
Northeast US
USA for IOM partnered with CCS in three formal engagements over 28 months and four months of pro bono support implementing good stewardship practices, enhancing prospect cultivation and management, building HNWI relationships and the private sector, and boosting board engagement.
Ronald McDonald House Orange County
Western US
RMHOC’s Together campaign will expand and improve the House for guests, staff, and volunteers. With CCS’s help, the campaign has raised more than $14M to date.
How can we help you?
Our unique, customized approach can provide your organization with of-the-moment, sustainable solutions.