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Janice Raeber, Vice President LFCS FoundationGina Fromme, Assistant Director, LFCS Foundation

Megan Nichols, Marketing Director, LFCS Foundation

The Capsule Wardrobe

#Bridge16

Examining & Streamlining Your Fundraising Closet

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Background of LFCS

Not-for-profit social services organization

Serve children and families throughout Missouri

Originally formed in 1868 as a residence for children left homeless after the Civil War

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LFCS Programs & Services

Counseling AdoptionCrisis

Pregnancy & Parenting

Foster Care

Child Care Youth Mentoring Disaster Relief Advocacy

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Unique Structure – Agency & Foundation

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Unique Structure – Agency & Foundation

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The Capsule Wardrobe

Susie Faux coined the term, Capsule

Wardrobe, in the 1970s

American designer, Donna Karan released an influential capsule

collection of 7 interchangeable work-

wear pieces in 1985.

Caroline Rector’s blog, Unfancy, re-envisioned the idea to a 37-piece

seasonal wardrobe: no shopping or swapping

allowed

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The Capsule Wardrobe

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Why a Capsule Wardrobe?

It’s applicable to any style

Getting dressed is a breeze

Better idea of what you like and what looks good on you

You can see what your wardrobe is missing

Having limited selections makes you creative

Less stressed

Better use of time and energy

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Why a Capsule Wardrobe

It feels good!

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How Does This Translate to Fundraising & Marketing?

The Capsule

Wardrobe

Minimalist

Streamlined

Organized

ResourcefulMindful

Simplified

Return on Investment

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The Fundraising & Marketing Closet

Events

Direct Mail

Major Gifts

Planned GivingE-Marketing

Print

Website/ Social Media

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The LFCS Fundraising & Marketing Closet

• Gala

• Golf Tournament

• Regional Events

• Direct Mail Strategy

• Website

• Printed Pieces

• Social Media

• Planned Giving

• E-marketing

• Donor Cultivation/

Stewardship

• Staff Responsibilities

• First-time Donor Relations

• Major Gift Strategies

• Database Management

• Advertising

• Ambassador Committee

• Storytelling

• Branding

• Assumptions

• Crowdsourcing

• Monthly Sustainers

• Online Giving

• Saying Thank You

• Boards & Committees

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What’s in your closet?

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Building Your Non-Profit Capsule Wardrobe

Keep Toss Accessorize

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Are You Up For the Challenge?

Remove personal attachments.

Consider if each piece really useful and wearable?

Your closet is only so big…There are only so many hours in a day.

Your closet also can’t be too empty… you can’t wear the same shirt every day.

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Challenge 1: Special Events

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Reviewing the LFCS Event Inventory

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Reviewing the LFCS Event Inventory

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Setting Our Goals

Appeal to a younger audience

Make improvements for added value

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Goal: Appeal to A Younger Audience

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Goal: Appeal to A Younger Audience

It started with one couple! Which led to more young couples becoming involved.

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Goal: Appeal to A Younger Audience

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Goal: Improve the Event for Our New Constituency

Before

After

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Provide Higher Quality of Items for auction– Quality vs. Quantity

What do our guests want? Unique items and experiences.

Look at evening agenda and make room for fun and fellowship.

Communicate our mission message.

Goal: Improve the Event for Our New Constituency

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Quality vs. Quantity

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Unique Experiences

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Fun and Fellowship

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The Mission

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It Worked!

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Questions

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Challenge 2: Major Gifts

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Before

After

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The Necessities of Any Major Gift Wardrobe

Old fashioned, roll-up-your-

sleeves fundraising

Hyper-focus on relationship building and

“The ASK”

Strategy and persistence

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Getting Back on Track

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Ditched Assumptions

Our donors and prospects are just too busy to meet with us.

Our donors and prospects prefer tax credits.

A donor or prospect said ‘no’ once. They aren’t interested.

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Our Approach

Reviewed and updated coding

Implemented new and mandatory tracking guidelines

Unified and streamlined messaging

Created a formal moves management program

Created a flipbook outlining programs, impact, and financial need

Set up reporting/accountability

Meeting as a team more frequently

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Major Gift Work

It takes a game plan.

It takes time.

It takes patience.

It takes accountability.

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Questions

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Challenge 3: Marketing

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Before

After

How Do We Fix It?

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Audit

• What existed

• How items were being “worn”

• What was effective

• Where improvement was needed

Marketing

Closet

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Roadmap for Success

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Identifying Our Style

Statewide Organization

Leader in the Community

Resonate with Multiple Audiences

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Out with the Old – Clearing through the Clutter

Mismatched newsletter and brochure templates

Non-responsive website

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In with the New – Developing a Strategy

Brand position statement

Organization summary

Brand promise

Core Essence

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It’s Time to Accessorize – Implementing the Playbook

Messaging Themes

Tone

Fonts

Colors

Imagery

Language

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Questions

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Before

After

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Before

After

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Before

After

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Final Thoughts

Your time is valuable and your resources

are limited

A ‘closet review’ is needed regularly

Be brutally honest and not afraid of

change

The result: A streamlined, fresh

and focused approach to marketing and

fundraising

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THANK YOU!

Don’t forget to visit the Solutions Showcase!

Many of the ideas discussed today are on display at the Solutions Showcase!

Janice Raeber, Vice President, LFCS Foundation, 314-754-2786, JaniceR@LFCS.ORG

Gina Fromme, Assistant Director, LFCS Foundation, 314-754-2784, GinaF@LFCS.ORG

Megan Nichols, Marketing Director, LFCS Foundation, 314-754-2785, MeganN@LFCS.ORG