Academy Street Workshop Blog

With the New Year comes new energy, focus and determination to achieve more, go farther and at some stage get some exercise and spend time with our families.

This year, Academy Street Workshop will be working even harder for our clients to provide them with the best support, advice and training possible so that they can continue to serve their communities, beneficiaries and wider society.

We can't wait!

We'll be announcing a number of new, targeted initiatives over the coming weeks but today I'm really excited to announce our latest offering for nonprofit professionals.

1:1 Coaching using the LEGO® Serious Play® methodology.

Have you ever felt stuck while tackling complex challenges, seeking clarity in your goals, or unlocking your full creative potential? Imagine a coaching experience where you not only talk but build your way to transformative insights—brick by brick.

Introducing 1-to-1 coaching with LEGO® Serious Play®, a hands-on and innovative method designed to help you:

• Gain deeper clarity on personal and professional goals.
• Discover new perspectives and solutions to challenges.
• Enhance creativity, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Using LEGO® bricks as a medium, our sessions will guide you to construct models that represent your thoughts and ideas, unlocking new ways of thinking and problem-solving. The process is backed by research and proven to enhance engagement, insight, and growth.

Who is this for? Whether you're a leader, new to your role, or someone seeking personal development, this coaching method is perfect for those ready to embrace change and take bold steps toward their aspirations.

What to expect:

• A personalized, structured approach tailored to your needs.
• Fun, engaging sessions that are deeply impactful.
• Real, actionable insights that you can implement immediately.
• Complimentary set of LEGO bricks to begin with.
• All sessions delivered online via Zoom

Let’s build your success story together!

Book a complimentary discovery call here: Book Now

If you’re curious about how LEGO® Serious Play® can transform your thinking, I’d be happy to chat and answer any questions.

Looking forward to the opportunity to create something extraordinary with you!

Take Care

Kevin

Have you ever had the experience of walking into your favourite coffee shop and the barista knowing what you were going to order before you even got to the counter?

How did that make you feel?

or

Have you ever ordered something online and when it arrived it had a little card or note saying “Thank you for supporting our small family business” inside the lovingly packaged order?

How did that make you feel?

or

Have you ever called the phone provider that you’ve been with for the last 10 years and spent 30 minutes repeating the same complaint to 5 different people all of whom asked you for more personal details than your GP without ever having the feeling that your issue was going to be resolved?

How did that make you feel?

-

Now think about your organisation and the interactions people have with you.

When you walk into a great coffee shop there’s a vibe. It feels welcoming. The people there feel like your people - even if you’ve never been there before.

When somebody walks into your office (either as a new employee or a client) does it feel like its theirs? Does it feel like a place they belong, that they can be themselves and thrive?

or

Does it feel like its your place and everybody else has to fit in?

Could you do better?

This doesn’t mean you have to install fussball tables everywhere, its not about spending money it’s about taking time to think.

When was the last time you asked your staff how it feels to work in your organisation?

When they walk in the door are they feeling:

relaxed

motivated

stressed

underappreciated/loved?

How can you make your organisation a place where people feel they belong?

-

How about your donor/customer experience?

When was the last time you made an anonymous donation/purchase from your own organisation - or asked a friend to do it for you?

How was the experience?

Did you feel like your time and money were appreciated?

Did it feel like a transaction?

Were you left cold?

Do you feel it is likely you would tell everybody you meet about the amazing experience you just had?

Would you be likely to come back again?

Are there simple things that would have made your experience:

easier (removing the amount of boxes you had to fill out on the form),

more relaxing (is your order confirmation so confusing that people think they’ve made a mistake)

more rewarding (would a handwritten post on the acknowledment be too hard to do)?

Why don’t you try and see how people respond.

At Academy Street Workshop we spend every day working with organisations of all sizes.

We help them with strategy, messaging, leadership, fundraising and more.

So many of the problems that organisations face are routed in only seeing the world from their perspective.

“We want to be able to capture as much data as possible”

“We’ve always done things a certain way”

“We’re not the type of organisation that does xxxx”

“We need more donations”

The reasoning behind these statements might be correct but whose perspective are you prioritizing?

What do you think would happen if you spent time considering every interaction people have with your organisation or you personally and asked yourself “how do I want them to feel about this?” - rather than “what do I want out of this?”

Do you want the experience to be more like your favourite coffee shop or your phone company?

Let me know what you think.

Kevin

We constantly get asked for great sources of information for nonprofits. Case Studies, fundraising information, grants, governance advice and everything in between. So we thought we'd create a list.

This is an Irish centric list at the moment with a few international resources but if you know of some great sites, groups or anything else please let us know and we'll keep this list updated.

There is no order, ranking or precedent given to these resources. As we thought of them we put them down.

The Wheel

The Wheel is a great one stop shop for nonprofits in Ireland. They operate a membership model but there is lots of useful information on their site for free and they offer very cost effective training. If you're looking for information on structure, governance etc start here. They also list jobs, events, training etc

Funding Point

Funding Point is run by The Wheel and is the biggest resource for grants and funding opportunities for Irish Nonprofits. You have to pay for access but they do offer a free weekly funding point email that lists some of the upcoming grants that are available.

Dochas

Dochas is an organisation catering mainly for nonprofits working in development. Their weekly Wednesday newsletter is something you should subscribe to as its a great resources for jobs, training opportunities and more

Activelink

Activelink is resource for posting jobs, training, tenders. Listings reach a wide audience.

Boardmatch

Boardmatch does exactly what it says on the tin. It is set up to help nonprofits match with potential board members. A great way for boards to grow beyond just their immediate network and access new members.

Charities Institute Ireland

A membership organisation particularly focused on supporting nonprofits who fundraise. They deliver the Certificate and Diploma in fundraising, host regular networking events and host a very popular jobs listing.

Sofii

The Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration is a site you need to get familiar with. It host a vast library of resources to help you design fundraising campaigns, learn from the most successful nonprofits and also to share your own experiences.

Chronicle of Philanthropy

A US based publication/website which has great articles and reports on trends in fundraising, philanthropy and nonprofit leadership. If you're really keen on whats happening around the world and what trends we might see in the next couple of years its well worth checking out. There is an annual subscription but many articles and resources are free.

Chartered Institute of Fundraising

The UK version of Charities Institute Ireland the CIOF is a big provider of training and also hosts a lot of networking for particular interest groups. They also run the annual fundraising convention in London which is worth a visit

Resource Alliance

A global nonprofit organisation whose main output is to produce arguably the best fundraising conference in the world each year the International Fundraising Congress (IFC) in Amsterdam

Association of Fundraising Professionals

The North American body for fundraising which runs training, supports, conferences.

Community Finance Ireland

CFI provides loans for nonprofits who are looking to improve facilities, develop new programmes etc and are in need of finance.

Philanthropy Ireland

Philanthropy Ireland works with philanthropist to promote the impact philanthropy has on society.

My Legacy

My Legacy works with its members to promote the concept of leaving a legacy to the wider public.

Social Entrepreneurs Ireland

SEI runs a series of programmes for social enterprises at all stages in their development. Selection on their programmes is by competition

Rethink Ireland

Rethink Ireland also supports social enterprises and nonprofits by way of grants and practical support.

Community Foundation

The Community Foundation issues grants on behalf of donors

Public Participation Networks

PPNs are attached to every county & city council in the country. Their goal is to provide a link between councils and the community sector. Membership is free and they provide a range of networking and training opportunities.

Arts Council

The Arts Council is the main funder of the arts in Ireland. They provide a range of grants for individual artists and artistic organisation

Heritage Council

The goal of the heritage council is to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of our heritage. They provide grants for some heritage based projects

County Council

All local county councils provide a range of supports and funding for nonprofits in a variety of sectors.

Fundraising Everywhere

Fundraising Everywhere is a membership based online provider of fundraising training, networking and conferences. It is a great access point to some leading fundraising experts.

Digital Charity Lab

Digital Charity Lab provides expert advice on online communications, fundraising and social media campaigning specifically targeted an nonprofits. They host a range of free and very affordable resources.

Fundraising Chat

A Facebook group for fundraisers. A great resource for professional fundraisers who want to reach out to colleagues.

Coffee With Fundraisers

A free networking group created by Academy Street Workshop to pair fundraisers for an informal coffee to help develop friends and networks around the world.

Carmichael Ireland

A provider of training, consultancy and supports for their nonprofit member and partners both in the centres and online.

Volunteer Ireland

Volunteer Ireland is a network of volunteer centres that are based all over the country. They are a great resource if you are seeking to recruit volunteers or if you're interested in volunteering with a nonprofit. They also have great training on how to recruit and manage volunteers.

Enclude

Enclude provides donated / discounted technology from all the main software companies in the world to Irish nonprofits. They also have a range of IT based services specifically for nonprofits.

Of course if you need any advice or support please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Community fundraising, the method by which many of our most iconic nonprofit organisations were built, is chronically neglected, misunderstood and under-resourced. Despite its ability to generate substantial income, develop movements, engage with supporters in a deeper way and foster strong community relationships – it continues to be the unloved relative of the fundraising family.

This is particularly tragic because we hear constant cries that communities are broken. We see that isolation and social anxiety are rife. And we know that messengers of hate and separation overwhelm new and traditional media.

Fortunately, there is hope. THINK’s March 2024 Community Forum benchmarking study found that, while the income and headcount for community fundraising teams were both still behind pre-pandemic levels ‘67 per cent of charities reported that they were planning to invest in community.’

So, what is community fundraising?

At its core, community fundraising is a celebration of everything good about humanity. 

Whether it is an event organised by a charity, or an individual setting themselves a challenge for a cause they care about – the fundamentals of community fundraising remain the same. It’s when a group of people, sometimes thousands strong, come together to stand with, support and meet a need. They do this by donating their own money via sponsorship, by rallying their friends and community to participate in a trivia night or by many other means. 

Ultimately, community fundraising brings people together to contribute what they can, in a unified way, to make the world a better place. What could be better or more important?

The unsung hero of fundraising

For many organisations, part of the challenge is that community fundraising encompasses a wide range of activities and events organised by both the organisation and/or volunteers within their local communities to raise funds. It comes in many shapes and forms. These include collections (Daffodil Day, Med Soc Day), third-party events (Dublin Marathon, Gael Force West), produced events (Torch of Hope, Big Busk), non-produced events (Head Shaves, Coffee Mornings etc), and hybrid events (Darkness into Light, Relay For Life). 

Tens of thousands of supporters participate in, organise and fundraise for these activities every week in Ireland. And this wide variety can make community fundraising difficult to quantify. 

It raises questions like, do you value the potential of a community fundraising supporter? What is their lifetime value to your organisation? Will their event be a huge success, or will it fizzle to a halt? But just because these questions are tricky to answer, and community fundraising is difficult to manage, it doesn’t mean it should be undervalued.

Community fundraising initiatives not only generate vital income but also raise awareness, engage supporters, and strengthen the bond between the organisation and the community it serves. This bond has real impact too. 

Somewhere between 36 per cent and 44 per cent of legacy donors have previously supported the organisation they ultimately leave a gift in their Will to*. This means that at some point, earlier in their life, the people leaving legacies either volunteered with, fundraised for or donated to their organisation. This also means that we have to stop thinking about impact and income not in one year, three year, or even ten year cycles. 

We need to consider the impact of strong community engagement with schools, sports clubs, etc – maybe in a 50 year cycle.

Much is written about the RNLI Blue Peter effect and how the engagement of children through the 70s and 80s in raising money for lifeboats continues to drive the giving of those children half a century later.  And yet many organisations operate community fundraising from a transactional approach: 

Organise an event – recruit participants – raise money – repeat – repeat – repeat.

So why, despite its undeniable benefits does community fundraising often take a backseat to other fundraising streams, such as major gifts, corporate partnerships, and digital fundraising?

This neglect stems from several factors, including the misguided perception that community fundraising is ‘old-fashioned’, ‘unprofessional’, and less profitable than other approaches. Additionally, the reliance on volunteers and the decentralised nature of community fundraising can make it seem unpredictable and challenging to manage. What is true is that it is hard to measure the impact of community fundraising, particularly in the long term.

The data dilemma

One of the main obstacles to understanding and promoting community fundraising is the lack of reliable benchmarking data. While other fundraising streams have established metrics and benchmarks to measure success and identify areas for improvement, community fundraising often lacks such standardised data. This makes it difficult for organisations to assess their performance, compare themselves to their peers, and make informed decisions about resource allocation.

Can you answer these questions about your community fundraising?

• What is the average income per marathon participant for your organisation?
• How does this compare to other organisations?
• How many volunteer led events (cake sales, sponsored events etc) repeated last year?
• What is the lifetime value of a community fundraising volunteer?
• Is there a pathway from community fundraising volunteers through different levels of volunteer leadership?
• What’s your average income/ head of population via community fundraising for every town in your catchment area? How does this compare to your competition?
• How many major donors, corporate supporters, legacy donors took part in community fundraising activities?

These are just examples. There are so many more questions that community fundraisers need to have the answer to, but don’t.

The knowledge gap

Another challenge facing community fundraising is the lack of understanding of its principles and best practices within the nonprofit sector. Many organisations fail to recognise the unique skills and strategies required for successful community fundraising. They may also underestimate the importance of building strong relationships with volunteers, providing adequate support and training, and recognising their contributions.

There is also a misconception that community fundraising is solely about the events and collecting donations. While these are important aspects, community fundraising is also about building a sense of ownership and empowerment among supporters, fostering a culture of philanthropy, building supporter loyalty and creating a sustainable source of income for the organisation.

Tips for unlocking the potential

To unlock the full potential of community fundraising, nonprofits need to address these challenges and adopt a more strategic and informed approach. 

This involves:

• Recognising the value of community fundraising and its contribution to the organisation’s mission and financial sustainability.
• Investing in resources and training to support community fundraising staff and volunteers.
• Developing clear goals and strategies for community fundraising initiatives and aligning them with the organisation’s overall fundraising plan.
• Building strong relationships with volunteers and recognising their contributions.
• Collecting and analysing data to measure the impact of community fundraising activities and identify areas for improvement.
• Promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration among community fundraisers and other fundraising professionals.

By taking these steps, nonprofits can elevate community fundraising to its rightful place as a core component of their fundraising strategy.

Embracing the future

Community fundraising is not a relic of the past but a vital and dynamic approach that can adapt and thrive in the digital age. By embracing technology and innovation, community fundraising can and is reaching new audiences, engaging supporters in novel ways, and maximising its impact.

We also need to balance the new and the old. Digital acquisition of supporters and participants is an essential tool for fundraising, but it is just that, a tool. 

So, what is next for you and your community fundraising? Are you watching the engagement of participants, identifying potential fundraising talents, seeking out personal connections with supporters? 

If you want to start a conversation about community fundraising, please email me at kevin@academystreetworkshop.com. Alternatively, if you have a fantastic community fundraising success story you’d like to share, please email Cii and tell us all about it!

Kevin’s article was first published on SOFII.org – The Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration (SOFII). Check out SOFII for a host of great Fundraising Case Studies and guides. 

*Campaign Solutions – ‘Legacy Insights Report #4: 2018 – 2022’