Workshop Recap: Fundraising Fundamentals for Nonprofit Developers
On Thursday, February 4th, SCANPH convened for the first workshop of the new year to cover topics of building fundraising capacity to fill project gaps, finance growth and support operations. Thoughtful discussion revealed ways in which nonprofit housing developers can fine-tune fundraising to ensure fiscal growth while strengthening community partnerships. The session focused on case studies and proven techniques that have aided the success of leading nonprofit housing developers.
Featured speaker, Amber Sheikh, Chief Impact Officer of Sheikh/Impact, shares strategies for nonprofit housing developers to strengthen private fund development to enhance sustainability. Sheikh suggests that nonprofit housing developers meet fundraising needs through philanthropic tools, such as program evaluation, pilot projects and ancillary services to strengthen philanthropic landscape. Acknowledging that philanthropy can be tricky, Sheikh reminds workshop attendees to keep up with current philanthropy trends to leverage funding and ensure equity in future developments. By conducting a donor development framework, developers can strengthen working relationships, a useful tool when the time comes to request funding. Sheikh notes the importance of giving donors the backstory when pitching data, “No data without stories, no stories without data.” All nonprofit housing developers should develop a case for support: telling a story about where there's a funding need and how your organization plans to make that need a reality.
Nina Dooley, VP of Corporate Development at LINC Housing, provides insightful strategies based on LINC’s recent housing development, Spark at Midtown in Long Beach, CA. Dooley reminds nonprofit housing developers of the importance of connecting funders to physical development sites, “Bringing people to your properties helps change hearts and minds.” By showing off impressive development features, organizations can make stronger funding pitches. Early in the development process, LINC set their organizational sights high, curating a development wish list. When the time came to make formal funding requests, LINC hosted in-person site walk-throughs to help funders see the project’s community value. Dooley shares that curating development wish lists can help developers better organize project visions, laying the framework for project priorities to secure capital cost and program fundraising, in addition to capital and planning grants.
Wrapping up the workshop, Amelita Pascual, Regional Director of Philanthropy at Mercy Housing shares how her organization approaches funding for Mercy Housing CA’s Resident Services programs. Heavily reliant on strategic philanthropy, Pascual describes how her organization has had success seeking out traditional sources, such as grants and donors, and through the promotion of special events. Specifically, Mercy Housing approaches fundraising through a values-based approach. Pascual notes, “finding purpose-aligned funders is key.”
The Q&A portion of the workshop ended with a timely question. One attendee wanted to learn more about how to retain donors in a post-pandemic fundraising landscape. Panelists commented that it remains imperative to ensure outreach funds much needed services: securing food and workforce development opportunities for residents. Further, panelists agreed that the pandemic exposed wide technology gaps in family settings. In many households, there’s a significant lack of technology equipment to serve the work and school needs of every family member. Keeping in touch with donors who care about relevant issues is key. Maintaining donor relationships ensures that residents have what they need to live comfortably.