The Challenge
Friends of Guest House faced a critical challenge: their lead fundraiser had departed, leaving a significant gap in leadership. With donors and deadlines looming, the organization needed immediate, expert support to keep fundraising efforts on track and ensure their organization didn’t lose ground.
The Process
Renee Smith, Onward’s leading fundraising consultant, stepped in as Interim Development Director to provide steady leadership and tackle the challenges head-on. Focused on action and results, Renee delivered:
- Strategic Fundraising: Wrote and delivered grants, answered donor correspondence, developed talking points for the Executive Director, and coordinated the annual giving appeal to keep fundraising on track.
- Donor Engagement Strategy: Researched and created talking points for donor meetings, developed a donor relationship calendar, and delivered evergreen materials such as grant proposals and case statements to strengthen donor engagement.
- Troubleshooting and Guidance: Designed a capital campaign strategy, navigated development obstacles with clarity, and supported the onboarding and coaching of new development staff to build long-term capacity.
The Outcome
Onward ensured Friends of Guest House maintained their fundraising momentum during a critical transition. Beyond bridging the gap, the organization emerged stronger with a strategic fundraising plan, tailored donor engagement tools, and a confident team equipped to lead future fundraising efforts.