Diversifying Philanthropic Revenue: A Strategic Development Framework for a Regional Education Non-profit
Abstract/Description/Artist Statement
A prominent regional education non-profit serves as a critical support system for K–12 students, providing them with a community of resources to empower them to stay in school and succeed in life. As the organization has expanded its footprint to serve 30 schools across multiple cities, its financial requirements have grown proportionally. Currently, a heavy reliance on institutional grants creates long-term sustainability risks. Partnering with a student consulting team from Old Dominion University’s Strome College of Business (MGMT 490/595), this project aims to develop a scalable, resource-efficient strategy to diversify the organization’s revenue through enhanced individual and corporate giving.
The student team is executing a rigorous five-phase research methodology: Revenue Diversification, Individual Donor Optimization, Corporate Partnership Strategy, Technology/CRM Optimization, and the creation of a Strategic Revenue Roadmap. Current research involves a deep dive into financial data, including Form 990 analysis of the client and regional benchmarks, to identify patterns in donor retention and acquisition. By transitioning from transactional grants to strategic partnerships and data-driven donor engagement, the project will provide the education non-profit with a 12–24 month roadmap designed to ensure financial stability and the continued ability to foster life-changing relationships for students in the region.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Kris Irwin
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Email
kirwin@odu.edu
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Management
College/School Affiliation
Strome College of Business
Student Level Group
Undergraduate
Presentation Type
Poster
Diversifying Philanthropic Revenue: A Strategic Development Framework for a Regional Education Non-profit
A prominent regional education non-profit serves as a critical support system for K–12 students, providing them with a community of resources to empower them to stay in school and succeed in life. As the organization has expanded its footprint to serve 30 schools across multiple cities, its financial requirements have grown proportionally. Currently, a heavy reliance on institutional grants creates long-term sustainability risks. Partnering with a student consulting team from Old Dominion University’s Strome College of Business (MGMT 490/595), this project aims to develop a scalable, resource-efficient strategy to diversify the organization’s revenue through enhanced individual and corporate giving.
The student team is executing a rigorous five-phase research methodology: Revenue Diversification, Individual Donor Optimization, Corporate Partnership Strategy, Technology/CRM Optimization, and the creation of a Strategic Revenue Roadmap. Current research involves a deep dive into financial data, including Form 990 analysis of the client and regional benchmarks, to identify patterns in donor retention and acquisition. By transitioning from transactional grants to strategic partnerships and data-driven donor engagement, the project will provide the education non-profit with a 12–24 month roadmap designed to ensure financial stability and the continued ability to foster life-changing relationships for students in the region.