In the intricate landscape of nonprofit fundraising, innovation takes center stage when necessity sparks invention. This was vividly demonstrated in the fall of 2021 when Bentzion Groner, Chief Executive of ZABS Place and a SEED20 Alum, reached out to SVP Charlotte for guidance on launching a capital campaign. ZABS Place, dedicated to providing training and employment opportunities for young adults with special needs talents, sought strategic expansion through a fundraising assessment. Recognizing the potential broader impact, SVP Charlotte stepped up, creating an innovative template that could benefit not only ZABS Place but also other emerging nonprofits.
The Spark Team assigned to this transformative project comprised field experts in nonprofit leadership, six sigma, finance, and fundraising, including SVP Partners Lou Jerome, Nancy Ralston, Anne Sinsheimer, Henry Lander, and Kristin Beck. Consultations from SVP Legacy Partner Joanne Beam, SVP Partner Adam Wassell, and Dr. Patton McDowell of PMA Nonprofit Leadership added valuable pro bono insights sharing their fundraising expertise.
Similar to the Nonprofit Leadership Lab’s “14 Attributes of a Healthy Nonprofit,” another assessment used by SVP Charlotte, the template defines key organizational pillars and provides a rating system. It evaluates capacities in areas such as planning, environment, operations, and more, offering a comprehensive view of fundraising capabilities. Completed just six months ago, the template evolved into two distinct assessments – the “Capital Campaign” assessment tailored to ZABS Place’s needs and the “Fundraising Fundamentals” assessment, providing a broader overview of an organization’s fundraising capacity.
Already making waves, these assessments have been employed by ZABS Place and Transforming Youth Movement as part of its strategic plan. Other nonprofits in the Spark Teams pipeline are set to benefit from these assessments, embodying the ripple effect of SVP Charlotte’s mission in action.
This collaborative process exemplifies SVP Charlotte’s commitment to leveraging knowledge and networks to create scalable resources that continually impact the local nonprofit community. As we witness the positive outcomes of these innovative assessments, the anticipation grows for the potential innovations you could bring to a Spark Team today #SVPCharlotte #FundraisingAssessment #SparkTeams #ZABSPlace #Transformingyouth movement
