CASE STUDY
Sherry Monastyrski and Loredana Wainwright had big dreams of fulfilling their community strategic plan, and they knew they would need to fundraising to reach the goals in it. By working with Growth & Co., they secured a capacity building grant that enabled them to build a roadmap for their fundraising staff member to follow that clearly laid out how to secure donations.
Sherry Monastyrski, CEO
Loredana Wainwright, Communications Officer
As a member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames with a Masters in Indigenous Governance, a law degree, and experience in senior roles at organizations such as the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), CEO Sherry Monastyrski is an experienced leader. With a clear sense of vision, one of her top priorities is executing the community plan to improve the lives of the members of Oneida Nation of the Thames. Securing funding would be critical for making this priority possible.
The organization did not have access to fundraising expertise, so Communications Officer Loredana Wainwright was tasked with solving the fundraising challenges of the organization. Loredana knew that bringing an external fundraising consultant on board to create a feasible fundraising strategy that a future fundraising staff member could execute would be necessary. A case for support that clearly articulates their fundraising priorities would also be necessary. She also knew that there was no budget to hire a fundraising expert for this strategy and case for support creation work.
Loredana had been in touch with Growth & Co. for several months trying to find temporary solutions to their lack of momentum in fundraising. It was clear that without money to invest, progress wouldn’t occur.
By researching prospects, Growth & Co.'s Larissa Stoddart was able to match Oneida Nation of the Thames with the London Community Foundation at the perfect time when the foundation had money available for a capacity building project like this one.
By providing Loredana with information to complete the grant application, they were able to secure a $40,000 grant to enable the fundraising capacity building work required before the organization could hire their fundraising staff member.
Following a kick-off meeting and several check in meetings with Sherry and Loredana, Growth & Co. conducted an audit of organizational activities that would impact fundraising success.
They then created a feasible fundraising plan that a part time or full time fundraising staff member could execute in the future. Finally, a Case for Support was created that aligns with the Oneida Nation of the Thames community plan and clearly links fundraising goals to community impact.
The organization now has objective insight into internal processes that impact fundraising, a fundraising plan that outlines clear strategies and tactics to be executed, and a case for support that clearly outlines areas that funders can support.