Fundraising Fatigue to Fresh Momentum
How strategic planning sparked new energy at Boys & Girls Clubs of King County
With traditional funding sources becoming less dependable, Boys & Girls Clubs of King County (BGCKC) faced a dual challenge: securing new revenue streams and finding ways to turn creative brainstorming into actionable initiatives. This left staff and volunteers fatigued and eager for a fresh approach. They also wanted to showcase how contributions fuel more than 50 programs across 32 Clubs. Above all, though, they wanted to inspire greater generosity through larger gifts and more frequent donations.
With a new CEO ready to shake things up, Extra Mile Marketing jumped in to build a smart, strategic marketing plan. We looked at what was working, what wasn’t, and how to bring the non profit’s board and staff together around a clear vision.
Because when everyone’s aligned, fundraising increases, events inspire, and your marketing campaigns WORK!
Our Mission: Our Mission: Reframe, Reconnect, Reignite
Reframe.
We started by reframing Boys & Girls Clubs’ story to spotlight what they do best: empowering kids. Spending a full day in person with board members, area directors, and Club staff, we guided them through our interactive Messaging Lab.
This session was anything but dull. It was lively, hands-on, and filled with energy. From group brainstorms to collectively crafting the story of “Evelyn,” a mom with two kids at the Club. Participants wrote answers to “why” on oversized sticky notes, moved around the room, and built ideas together. This collaborative process uncovered who their donors are, what makes the Clubs truly unique, and how to weave those elements into a compelling narrative that resonates with every supporter.
Reconnect.
The better you can define potential donors by understanding what they do, what they think about, what they care about, and what drives their giving, the more effectively you can tailor messaging and talking points that truly resonate.
In this stage of our workshop, we helped the BGCKC team reconnect with their mission on a personal level. Through shared stories and visioning exercises, participants were reminded why they joined the organization and how their role, whether on the board, on staff, or in leadership, makes a direct difference in the lives of local children and teens. This emotional spark was key to shifting the mindset from raising money to expanding opportunities for youth.
We also explored going beyond their usual reach, introducing six distinct donor audiences: Families, Volunteers, Club Alumni, Individual & Major Donors, Corporate Sponsors, and Legislators. Together, we mapped out each audience’s values, priorities, and motivations for giving, setting the stage for more targeted and impactful engagement.
Reignite.
This final session was all about turning insights into action. We took what we learned in previous sessions and generated more than 50 creative fundraising ideas designed to connect with each of the six key audiences in ways that felt both meaningful and fun.
Then the energy went into overdrive. We created an actionable plan that could launch within the next 30 days, ensuring the momentum did not just stay in the room but carried forward into real-world impact.
The Results: Two workshops, multiple wins
Here’s a snapshot of what we did with Boys & Girls Clubs of King County in these sessions:
Refreshed fundraising messaging for marketing materials, website content, and social channels
Developed case statements and points of differentiation tailored to multiple donor types
A roadmap that guides both immediate fundraising pushes and long-term growth
Created five new campaign action plans to activate immediately
Reinvigorated board and staff, aligning them on the organization’s mission and equipping them to talk about it to possible donors
Renewed enthusiasm heading into the organization’s biggest fundraising event of the year
Ready to reimagine your nonprofit’s fundraising approach?
Contact us to bring fresh energy, practical tools, and a unified vision to your organization.
Jason Bloom, Boys and Girls Club of King County Board Member
“Our biggest takeaway was the importance of message alignment across diverse audiences. The exercises challenged us to think more deeply about how different stakeholders experience our mission and what they need to hear in order to engage meaningfully. The persona-building process laid a strong foundation for future messaging that feels specific and intentional.”