Client Summary

So They Can is an international charity dedicated to empowering communities through education and sustainable development. In 2014, So They Can established a USA 501(c)(3) entity to expand its reach and diversify funding sources. By early 2025, the organisation sought to strengthen its presence in the USA, build relationships with new funders and partners, and activate its USA Board to support these ambitions.

Challenge

Despite establishing a USA Board and entity, So They Can had not yet achieved significant fundraising traction in the American market. The organisation recognized the need to better understand the local philanthropic landscape, clarify the Board’s role, and develop a tailored approach to engaging US-based funders and partners. Key challenges included:

• Limited board activation.
• Lack of market differentiation.
• The need for a strategic friendraising pipeline.

Our Approach

Giving Connect adopted a collaborative, multi-stage approach informed by our proprietary frameworks and deep sector expertise:

Stage 1: USA Board Review

• Conducted one-on-one consultations and online assessments with each board member to understand individual strengths, lived experiences, and collective board composition.
• Aggregated feedback into a Board Composition Matrix, mapping skills, diversity, and circles of influence.
• Delivered a detailed presentation to the CEO and Board, outlining ten actionable recommendations, including focused fundraising targets, board coaching, and network activation.
• Provided ongoing coaching to build board members’ confidence and capacity in fundraising.

Stage 2: Friendraising and Investment Planning

• Assessed the USA fundraising market, including competitor analysis and mapping of potential partners and funders.
• Reviewed and refined So They Can’s Case for Support and Theory of Change to resonate with US audiences.
• Developed and presented a tailored Investment Plan, identifying initial routes to unlock investment and cultivate relationships.
• Coordinated and conducted pre-fundraising consultations with qualified leads, both in-person and virtually, with board volunteers invited to shadow conversations for deeper market insight.

This approach ensured that So They Can’s US Board was activated, valued, and equipped to support the organisation’s ambitions, while also laying the groundwork for effective friendraising and partnership development.

Outcome & Impact

Through Giving Connect’s targeted interventions, So They Can achieved greater clarity and confidence within its US Board, with members feeling valued and empowered to support fundraising efforts. The organisation gained a nuanced understanding of the US philanthropic landscape and a clear strategy for differentiating itself in the market.

The tailored investment plan and friendraising pipeline enabled So They Can to initiate meaningful conversations with prospective funders and partners, setting the stage for long-term, fruitful relationships and increased income from the USA.