In a rapidly evolving social and cultural landscape, organizations must adapt to shifting expectations from both their donors and the communities they serve. At Core Firm, we worked with a client—an advocacy-focused nonprofit—navigating this delicate balance. Their challenge? Aligning member and constituent priorities with community-driven programming while ensuring authenticity, trust, and long-term impact.
The Challenge
This organization had a strong base of donors who were eager to fund initiatives that addressed pressing social issues. At the same time, their community members wanted more direct involvement in shaping programs that reflected their lived experiences and priorities. The leadership faced a dilemma:
- How do you honor member and stakeholder intent without overshadowing community voices?
- How do you avoid tokenization and ensure meaningful representation?
- How do you create a collaborative model that fosters engagement, not tension?
The Approach
Core Firm stepped in to bridge the gap, helping the organization develop a strategy that ensured inclusive decision-making while maintaining sustainability. Our approach included:
1. Facilitating Structured Feedback Mechanisms:
- We implemented listening sessions with community members.
- We worked with leadership to establish stakeholder roundtables to foster dialogue and transparency.
- We worked with executives to expand this into an opportunity for trust building with their employees, funders and the community.
2. Reframing Donor Communications:
- We helped the organization shift from a top-down approach to a partnership model.
- We crafted impact narratives that focused on collaboration and shared investment.
3. Creating Program Alignment:
- Staff were engaged in a cross-functional planning process to align fundraising with community priorities.
- We incorporated both stakeholder interests and community needs.
The Results
- Increased retention: Stakeholders felt more connected to the community’s priorities.
- Stronger community trust: Community members felt heard and valued, leading to higher engagement in programs.
- Sustainable program growth: With community buy-in, the organization was able to scale initiatives with confidence.
Key Takeaways for Organizations Facing Similar Challenges:
- Listen first, fund second. Building programs around real community needs fosters long-term sustainability.
- Transparency builds trust. When constituents understand why certain priorities take precedence, they are more likely to support them.
- Co-creation fosters investment. Bringing community members and stakeholders early in the process ensures shared ownership and long-term commitment.
At Core Firm, we help organizations navigate these nuanced challenges with strategic communications and stakeholder engagement expertise. Ready to align your stakeholder strategy with community impact? Let’s talk.
Contact us: info@corefirm.ca
