The Challenge
The American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is a 501 c(4) organization, with a strong grassroots network of tens of thousands of supporters. ACS CAN wanted to significantly expand its major gifts program, but with a small staff and many other pressing priorities, needed help in deciding where to begin, how to proceed, and what goals would be realistic for their work.
The Approach
Carter Consulting Group assessed the Network’s major gifts readiness through a combination of board and staff interviews and analysis of annual donor data. With a relatively low average annual gift from individuals based largely on events, new gift opportunities needed to be identified that would make the organization’s powerful and compelling vision tangible in new ways.
After working closely with the board and staff, including staff from the 501c(3) parent organization, ACS CAN’s values and vision were re-articulated for the lay donor. Carter Consulting Group identified major gift opportunities and developed cases for support. We identified several pools of prospective donors from existing donor files as well as outside supporters. We developed five critical action steps and a five year timeline including annual goals.
The Result
As the American Cancer Society undergoes a long planned transformation in structure, the Cancer Action Network will enter its second decade as the advocacy arm of the revered institution. ACS CAN is prepared to begin their major gifts initiative with a step by step plan for implementation well into the next ten years. They are armed with the tools to relate to supporters in entirely new ways, and a new understanding of the board’s role in securing major support is being developed. ACS CAN expects to be successful in raising significantly greater funds in the fight for less cancer and more birthdays.
