Client Summary

Impact North is an Aboriginal-controlled non profit committed to First Nations self-determination through entrepreneurship, delivering community-led, place-based initiatives. As the organisation grew, so did the opportunity for the Head of Integrity to step into an expanded remit spanning the revenue and partnerships portfolio.

Challenge

Impact North needed a revenue and partnership strategy that clearly explained what to prioritise (and what to intentionally not pursue), exposed revenue concentration risk, enabled confident forecasting, and built lasting internal capability — rather than relying on ongoing external support.

Our Approach

Giving Connect’s approach included:

• Began with a Ready2Raise Diagnostic, discovery interview and coaching conversations to understand the expanded remit and Impact North’s existing approach to revenue and partnerships.
• Delivered a revenue and partnership workshop to explore available channels and build shared understanding of Impact North’s culture and approach to philanthropy.
• Developed a Case for Support Spine with tailored messaging, and a revenue forecasting and dashboard tool to support planning and monitoring.
• Co-developed a three-year Revenue and Partnership Strategy (2026–2028) and an 18-month action plan, including proposed KRAs, KPIs and a RACI framework.
• Delivered coaching alongside the strategy work, building confidence, judgement and prioritisation, supported by a Professional Development Plan and coaching workbook.

Outcome & Impact

Our work resulted in the following outcomes for the client:

• A clear, shared revenue and partnership strategy articulating what Impact North will prioritise, and what it will intentionally not pursue.
• Improved visibility of revenue concentration risk and future funding gaps, enabling proactive rather than reactive planning.
• Practical tools for forecasting, partnership cultivation and quarterly review, plus a draft Position Description for the Head of Integrity role.
• Clear growth in the Head of Integrity’s confidence, judgement, pacing and prioritisation over the course of the engagement.

Working with Giving Connect came at exactly the right moment for Impact North. We were growing quickly, and with that growth came the need to think more deliberately about how we build and sustain our funding base. Giving Connect helped us develop a clear, values-aligned strategy to diversify our revenue – grounded in deep sector understanding, practical tools and a realistic picture of where our funding risks sit. 

On a personal level, Linda’s coaching was genuinely one of the most valuable parts of the engagement. Her style was tailored, consistent and warm – always meeting me where I was at, building my confidence and judgement, alongside the strategy itself. I finished the engagement with a stronger sense of my own role and how to lead this work.

I’d recommend Giving Connect to any organisation that wants to grow its funding capability without losing its values in the process, and to any fundraising professional who wants to grow alongside the strategy.

Jessica Dyson – Impact North