Confluence Philanthropy advances mission-aligned investing by supporting a community of 200 foundations, families, individual donors, and investment advisors committed to moving philanthropic assets towards mission-related investments. Confluence encourages collaboration, resource sharing, and leadership development across its membership by convening members and offering them technical assistance, resources, and educational programming. Approaching its 10-year anniversary, Confluence has reached a pivotal moment characterized by a growing membership and broader interest in the field of mission-related investing. To ensure that its strategic direction is informed by its members, Confluence engaged a Capstone team to perform a membership assessment. The team developed assessment tools, including three interview guides and two surveys designed with a focus on three research areas: membership composition, programmatic focus, and business model. The team conducted member interviews, administered the surveys, and synthesized and analyzed the data to discover key findings. The team’s recommendations provide guidance on how to incorporate members’ insights into strategic actions that strengthen the organization.

The Asian American Film Lab (AAFL) works to promote gender and ethnic diversity in films and elevate the voices of underrepresented groups. Each year, AAFL hosts several activities that are critical to the organization’s fundraising goals, including its annual gala, workshops, and a premier film festival event. AAFL enlisted a Capstone team to design a fundraising action plan to help optimize the organization’s fundraising activities and identify potential alternative sources of revenue. The Capstone team conducted analyses utilizing the donor base and the competitor landscape. Additionally, the team executed a cost-benefit analysis of AAFL’s existing programs. The team’s final deliverable to AAFL comprises a general fundraising activities assessment, a program-oriented fundraising assessment, and an action plan for implementation.

NEO Philanthropy (NEO) is a philanthropic intermediary committed to building strong social justice movements. NEO enlisted a Capstone team to conduct an industry scan of peer philanthropic intermediaries working to bridge the gap between funders and grassroots nonprofits. NEO seeks to establish greater transparency and awareness in the field and among peer organizations. The team developed and administered a web-based survey to more than 50 organizations to better understand the programs and services philanthropic intermediaries provide to nonprofits and funders. The team analyzed and compiled the findings into a report that will help NEO better understand its positioning in the field; assess its current operations in relation to peers; and identify areas for growth, change, and potential realignment. The findings were also shared with all survey participants to strengthen their understanding of the field overall.

Asian Women Giving Circle (AWGC) is a unique community-based grassroots collective of philanthropists who raise and distribute individual grants to New York City-based Asian American women artists who use their creativity to advance social justice. The number of grantee applications grows each year, yet AWGC's annual fundraising has plateaued. AWGC enlisted a Capstone team to provide recommendations on how to increase its pool of funding for grantees. The team conducted interviews and surveys to collect qualitative and quantitative data about AWGC's participants. The team analyzed the findings and provided a report with recommendations on how AWGC can increase its fundraising while maintaining the culture of the giving circle. The report included recommended donor engagement strategies, a list of fundraising ideas, research on potential high-net-worth donors in New York City, testimonials from AWGC participants, and the survey and interview tools.

The Fort Greene Park Conservancy (Conservancy) partners with the City of New York and the NYC Parks Department to steward, fundraise, and advocate for Fort Greene Park. The flourishing Brooklyn neighborhood of Fort Greene and nearby developments have positioned Fort Greene Park for significant growth opportunities over the next five to ten years. To address this opportunity, the Conservancy engaged a Capstone team in assisting with a strategic planning process. The Capstone team conducted research to assess the state of the park and identify critical needs. The study included a survey of park users, primary and secondary research, and interviews with over 20 individuals including staff, board members, community partners, peer organizations, and other key stakeholders. The team analyzed the research findings, drawing out trends through a facilitated vision statement workshop, SWOT analysis, and logic model. The team worked closely with Conservancy board members to craft a new vision statement and goals for the organization. The team synthesized the research material and analysis, which culminated in a strategic plan for the Conservancy.

Changing the Present is a nonprofit organization that connects those interested in buying meaningful gifts with more than 1,500 charitable nonprofits that help make the world a better place. All donations made through Changing the Present's website go directly to the causes. Changing the Present receives only a small processing fee, which is not enough to sustain operations or grow the organization. The organization engaged a Capstone team in building a fundraising strategy tailored to its unique needs and organizational culture. The team conducted a literature review on best practices in donor cultivation and stewardship and administered and analyzed surveys of stakeholders and field experts. The team's research culminated in a set of recommendations to support the organization in developing an effective fundraising strategy to provide an avenue for sustainability and growth.