project scope

Development Strategy Consultants’ client Heading Home raised a record-breaking $1.34 million dollars at their gala on May 9, 2017.  Wendy Dodson spearheaded the project and was responsible for all aspects of fundraising including sponsorship and auction, committee management and overseeing the gala planning logistics team.

Now one of Boston’s largest fundraising events, the Housewarming gathered nearly 1,000 business leaders at The Castle in Boston’s Back Bay to network, sample fine food, and help end homelessness locally. The night concluded with a spirited live auction featuring “priceless” donated items including a once-in-a-lifetime road trip with the New England Patriots, which raised more than $100,000. The event’s proceeds directly benefit Heading Home’s programs throughout Greater Boston.

Results

Additional Kudos to the Development Strategy Consultants:

“Thank you and your team for making it so easy, “John Edwards, Event Co-Chair, Breeds Hill Capital.

“Great job, Wendy and thank you for letting me be a part of it!” Jeff Weschler, Event Co-Chair, Tishman Speyer.

To learn more about Heading Home please visit, www.headinghomeinc.org

HISTORY

Over the past 40 years, Heading Home has become the area’s go-to solution provider for homeless families. They have successfully created more than 350 units of housing since 2006, and their emergency shelter and transitional programs are now focused on moving residents to permanent housing as quickly as possible.

project scope

The Umbrella Community Arts Center approached DSC for assistance in accelerating their capital and annual fundraising operations. The project goal is to help Umbrella become the premier arts institution of Greater Boston. Working with the Umbrella Community Arts Center leadership is helping to support the organization’s $15-million capital campaign. To reach this unique goal of broadening the scope and span of the Umbrella Community Arts Center, DSC is working with the center to develop and implement the Umbrella Concert Series that features theater as a musical venue for the greater Boston community. In addition to the capital campaign, DSC’s event planning arm manages the production of the concerts and reception, concert committee, and communications – to increase the Umbrella Community Arts Program public presence and fundraising efforts. The series has welcomed artists Lyle Lovett and Bruce Hornsby and will continue to host national acts through 2017.

Results

To date the campaign has raised an $9 million of the $15 million goal. 

To learn more about the Umbrella concerts series and upcoming arts programs please visit, www.theumbrellaarts.org

HISTORY

Located in Concord, Massachusetts the Umbrella Community Arts Program houses a studio space for more than 50 artists, offers classes and workshops, provides exhibition space, and theater space, all with the explicit goal of enriching and creating a vibrant community through arts education. 

History

Youth Enrichment Services (YES) provides Boston youth leadership through active, outdoor experiences and adventures providing a holistic program that supports the long-term success of participants in all aspects of their lives including college and career. By engaging youth in challenging, active outdoor experiences, embedded with leadership development programming, YES will develop the next generation of leaders who are prepared to achieve, lead and excel in college, career and life. YES strives to ensure that Boston offers equitable opportunities for youth to have access to challenging active outdoor experiences and leadership development activities regardless of their parents’/guardians’ socio-economic status, familiarity, or level of engagement.

Project Scope

DSC was brought on board in 2013 to help YES accelerate its annual fundraising program. DSC developed a 3-year strategic fundraising plan and helped revamp the organization’s board structure and recruited a fundraising-focused Board of Trustees. In addition, DSC restructured the organization’s annual fundraising gala to fully engage high-level community leaders, created a gala committee, and recruited top community leaders to help with fundraising and work alongside YES staff and board members. Wendy also serves as the YES major gift officer and most recently has been tasked with spearheading the organization’s first capital campaign. 

Additionally, DSC has recruited and managed the real estate committee, and is facilitating the organization’s real estate redevelopment by recruiting Boston’s top real estate leaders, establishing a feasibility study, researching opportunities, and gathering results for the board of directors. 

Project Results

In their second year with YES, DSC help YES increase the gala revenue by 30%, help expanded the Board of Trustees with seven new members - each donating $10,000.

To learn more about Youth Enrichment Services (YES) please visit, http://www.yeskids.org.

Project Scope

FSC contacted DSC to help them develop and implement a capital campaign that would support the infrastructure enhancement necessary to ensure that Mittersill will become a premier destination for competition and instruction for future generations. These capital improvements will include the creation of an alpine training and race venue, a T-Bar lift installation, trail widening, snowmaking, and the addition of a connector trail to Cannon Mountain.

Project Results

DSC developed a layered fundraising strategy that would help Cannon Mountain, FSC, and Mittersill become a premier ski-racing destination. The project goals were to better understand their constituents and identify obstacles or challenges. This identification process helped DSC leverage the client’s current relationships, engage industry influencers in the discussion and development process of the project, and develop a targeted fundraising plan. To date, DSC has helped FSC raise $3 million, (75% of the project goal) and FSC opened the venue in the 2016 season.

To learn more about Mittersill please visit, http://www.franconiaskiclub.com/