As a small but growing nonprofit, M.O.R.E. Possibilities faced the realities of limited time, a small staff, and the need to find guidance that respected their unique pace and challenges. They wanted expert support from people who understood how to build sustainability for an organization at their stage — without forcing them into a one-size-fits-all approach.
Through LFGYW, Executive Director Sarah Bamber worked closely with Angela and the Broad Oaks team, benefiting from clear guidance, ongoing support, and a flexible, self-paced structure. The program allowed her to move through the content when she had capacity, while maintaining consistent relationships and coaching from the BOC team to keep her accountable and supported at every step.
The program helped lay the groundwork for M.O.R.E. Possibilities to expand strategically and build long-term sustainability. Sarah developed clearer messaging — both for donors and the families and community they serve — and learned how to connect supporters to the organization’s unique stories and impact. In Sarah’s words:
“In 2024, LFGYW helped us put in place for our end of year giving campaign a certain goal. We were more than able to double that goal. That would not have been possible without putting in place those steps. That achievement is fully because we followed to the tee what the outline had been in the program. And it was all that made us successful.”
Sarah and her team are now growing their staff, strengthening their board, and moving forward with clarity and confidence.
Laying a Foundation Your Way
Building a Sustainable Future for a Small Nonprofit
Client: M.O.R.E. Possibilities
Executive Director Sarah Bamber knew her small but growing nonprofit needed help — but the idea of investing in a program felt risky. With limited time, a tiny team, and competing demands, she wasn’t sure she could afford to spend the money or the bandwidth. But what she found in LFGYW was a flexible, thoughtful approach that honored the realities of a small organization. With coaching, resources, and a clear structure, Sarah and her team were able to clarify their message, grow with intention, and more than double their year-end goal.
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After five years as a nonprofit in Michigan, Foster Families NRC faced exponential growth, and Founder & Executive Director Sarah Humerickhouse found herself constantly putting out fires instead of building systems. She worried about funding, lacked consistency in how the organization engaged donors, and felt uncertain about how to sustain their success — all while still learning how to lead a nonprofit effectively.
Through LFGYW, Sarah gained access to a library full of strategies and templates, plus group coaching that meets leaders and organizations where they are. This gave her the confidence and ability to address immediate challenges while building a sustainable approach to donor engagement at her own pace.
Sarah and her team developed a consistent, donor-centered communication strategy, cultivated stronger relationships with supporters, and reached a new level of organizational and personal growth. Sarah shares:
“If you’re thinking about joining Angela’s class, I would say: Do it. You are going to learn so much, and it is so easy to take the information you’re getting and then put it right into practice. You can use whatever you learn and put it right into practice that day.”
Laying a Foundation Your Way
Building Confidence and Consistency During Rapid Growth
Client: Foster Families NRC
Founder and Executive Director Sarah Humerickhouse almost didn’t join LFGYW. As the leader of a young, rapidly growing nonprofit, she was concerned about time, money, and whether now was the right moment to invest in a coaching program. But as her organization expanded and the challenges piled up, she realized that going it alone wasn’t sustainable. Through LFGYW, Sarah gained the tools, support, and clarity she needed to engage donors with confidence, build consistency in communication, and step into her leadership with a renewed sense of purpose.
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Coming out of a major leadership transition, Casa de Esperanza was at a crossroads. Their founder — a beloved and long-time leader — had stepped down. Their new Executive Director had vision, but also faced hesitation and wondered, Is this really the right time to invest in outside help when we’re still getting our bearings?
The truth was, they couldn’t afford not to. The foster care landscape had shifted, their program model had evolved, and donor engagement wasn’t what it used to be. They knew their story needed to change — but they weren’t sure how to tell it. They needed outside perspective, clear strategy, and a way to bring their board and team along with confidence.
Broad Oaks Consulting conducted a full nonprofit assessment, engaging both current and former supporters to understand what had worked in the past, where engagement had declined, and what could be reimagined. We helped Casa refresh its messaging to reflect both how foster care has changed and how Casa continues to meet those needs today. From there, we strategically aligned development activities with their refreshed messaging, and we trained staff and board members to confirm confidence and consistency when it comes to sharing the story.
With a compelling narrative, messaging aligned, and a new website in place, Casa has seen steady growth in both individual giving and institutional support. They’ve built and retained a committed staff and are now fully staffed – with the internal capacity to significantly increase fundraising results year after year.
Laying a Foundation for Growth
New Leadership, Renewed Story, Strategic Reset
Client: Casa de Esperanza
With a new Executive Director at the helm and a foster care landscape in flux, Casa de Esperanza needed more than just a messaging refresh — they needed a strategic reset. Through Laying a Foundation for Growth, Broad Oaks helped Casa realign their development approach, build internal capacity, and strengthen confidence across staff and board. Today, Casa is fully staffed and steadily growing donor support, backed by clear messaging and a sustainable fundraising plan.
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At first, The Riverside Project wasn’t sure they could take on a consulting engagement. The team was expanding fast, internal roles were shifting, and leadership was already stretched thin. “How do we invest in fundraising strategy when we’re already at capacity?” they asked. But with so much growth happening — and so little time to think about the how behind that growth — they realized they needed more than another campaign. They needed clarity. They needed structure. And they needed a roadmap to grow on purpose instead of reacting to the pace of success.
We began with a full nonprofit assessment, reviewing internal communication materials, conducting a full website audit, and examining the donor journey. TRP also worked closely with us on their live campaigns and events throughout the coaching engagement, applying strategic messaging improvements and fundraising best practices in real-time. This allowed them to maximize every opportunity while refining their communications and building a more sustainable fundraising model.
Within one year, The Riverside Project exceeded its fiscal year fundraising goal and came in under budget on expenses. They promoted a staff member into a new development role, positioning her for one-on-one coaching with Angela. With a calendared development plan in hand and internal clarity around staffing, TRP is positioned to execute its growth strategy for years to come.
Laying a Foundation for Growth
Growing With Intention
Client: The Riverside Project
The Riverside Project was growing quickly, not sure they could keep up — behind the scenes, staff capacity, role clarity, and long-term strategy were struggling. Through Laying a Foundation for Growth, the team gained the tools and support they needed to streamline operations, communicate their mission more clearly, and build a sustainable development structure. In one year, they exceeded their fundraising goals and created internal alignment to support their next chapter of growth.
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The Reading League is a young, mission-driven organization founded by a team of passionate educators. While they initially experienced success with foundation funding, the Executive Director and Development Director recognized that relying solely on grants posed a long-term risk. As a chapter-based organization, they also needed support with messaging their work to the general public and building an individual giving program that could one day sustain their general operations – something program-specific grants couldn’t do alone.
We began by interviewing a cross-section of TRL constituents and mapping the donor experience at every engagement point, from teachers and school administrators to researchers and policymakers. This comprehensive analysis revealed opportunities to automate and personalize engagement, building a stronger fundraising strategy rooted in relational connection and long-term growth. The goal was to create a seamless, compelling donor experience while laying the groundwork for scalable individual giving.
TRL launched its first sustaining giving campaign, piloting it at the chapter level with select partners. They’ve begun cultivating major gifts and have their first in-home fundraising event planned. Their internal alignment and improved engagement tools have positioned them to grow their donor base with intention and confidence.
“Every single course, I came away with a golden nugget I could use immediately in my donor conversations, in my conversations with external stakeholders — just to deepen that connection and to really grow our organization’s presence.”
— Anne Marie Smith, Development Director, The Reading League
Laying a Foundation for Growth
From Chapter Roots to National Reach
Client: The Reading League
The Reading League (TRL) came to Broad Oaks to diversify funding beyond foundations and build a scalable individual giving strategy. Through deep analysis of the donor experience and customized coaching, TRL developed a sustaining giving campaign and began piloting it through their chapter network. With a major gifts strategy in motion and strengthened messaging, TRL is growing its base with clarity and confidence.
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Second Mile almost didn’t make the investment. After more than two decades of relying on grants and church partners, the idea of paying for external fundraising strategy felt like a big leap — especially when they weren’t even sure where to begin with individual giving. But deep down, they knew the path they were on wasn’t sustainable. They needed guidance to diversify their revenue without overwhelming their small team — and a plan they could actually implement.
Having previously worked with Solace Media to strengthen its messaging, Second Mile entered the fundraising phase of Laying a Foundation for Growth in 2024. Angela conducted a full nonprofit assessment and created a tailored development plan focused on sustainable growth.
Within a year, Second Mile launched a sustaining giving program and began building a major gifts program. They improved the experience for their network of volunteers and rolled out new donor communications to better engage their community.
Laying a Foundation for Growth
Growing Beyond Grants
Client: Second Mile
After 22 years of impact, Second Mile Mission Center realized they couldn’t rely on grants and church partners forever. But shifting their fundraising model felt risky — until they partnered with Broad Oaks to create a strategy tailored to their mission and capacity. The result? A new sustaining giving program, major gift cultivation, and stronger donor communications to support long-term growth.
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Copywriting
Raise More at Year-End – Without the Guesswork
We help nonprofits craft compelling year-end campaigns to inspire giving and exceed goals. Whether you need full-service campaign copy across mail, email, and social media – or just ready-to-go messaging you can customize – we meet you where you are. Our donor-centric storytelling converts audiences into first-time and returning donors. See how our clients raised more than $320,000 in 2024 — and get inspired to do the same.
See Year-End Campaign Success Stories
The Coalition of Skin Diseases planned a Development Day for its member organizations and needed a keynote speaker who could deliver quick, actionable insights on fundraising. With limited time and a diverse audience, the goal was to equip participants with tools they could use immediately regardless of size, budget, or fundraising experience.
Angela worked with the event organizers to shape a keynote focused on one of the most universal needs in fundraising: crafting a compelling message that inspires giving. Her session outlined how to take a message and turn it into a results-getting campaign. In under an hour, she delivered practical, relevant strategies tailored to the realities of growing nonprofits.
Attendees responded with enthusiasm, praising the clarity and usefulness of the content – and many wished the session had been longer. The presentation not only demystified key fundraising concepts, but left organizations feeling energized and equipped to take immediate action. Angela’s keynote became a standout moment of the day, sparking new conversations and fresh ideas across the coalition.
Event Keynote
Actionable Fundraising Insights in Under an Hour - March 2025 Keynote
Client: Coalition of Skin Diseases
At the Coalition of Skin Diseases’ Development Day, Angela delivered a high-impact keynote focused on building powerful messages and turning them into campaigns that drive results. Designed to fit a tight time slot, her session delivered practical, relevant tools to nonprofits of all sizes. Attendees left energized, asking for more – and many walked away ready to immediately apply what they learned.
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The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a global Catholic religious order, gathered for a major convocation in 2025 to reflect on their ministry and discern how best to advance their mission in a rapidly changing world. They needed a keynote speaker who would not only inspire, but challenge them to think differently about their role, their relevance, and their future. The goal was not just a speech, but a transformative moment of communal reflection and visioning.
Angela collaborated closely with the Provincial, Fr. Ray Cook, to clarify the desired outcomes and the true call to action for the convocation audience. Together, they shaped an experience that combined keynote messaging with hands-on workshop elements, creating space for honest conversation and bold imagination. Every portion was customized to support the Oblates' unique structure, values, and moment of discernment.
In a three-hour session, Angela led the group through a powerful dialogue about change, purpose, and opportunity. The experience invited participants not just to rethink their current work, but to reimagine what it could become. The keynote directly informed the development of a new strategic plan – and laid the groundwork for renewed vision and direction within the Order.
Event Keynote
Reimagining Ministry in a Changing World - June 2025 Convocation
Client: Missionary for Oblates of Mary Immaculate
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate were at a crossroads, considering how to adapt their ministry to today’s changing world. They invited Angela to lead their 2025 Convocation with a bold keynote and hands-on workshop that challenged and inspired. Over the course of three hours, Angela helped participants rethink what’s possible and laid the groundwork for a new strategic plan – now shaping the future of their work.
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Tri-Star Trust works with many small nonprofits that often lack the resources to learn and apply best practices in nonprofit leadership. As part of their commitment to giving back, Tri-Star seeks to provide meaningful training opportunities to help both clients and other community organizations grow and succeed.
Angela partnered with Tri-Star to create full-day, interactive workshops offering fresh, practical strategies tailored to nonprofit leaders at varying levels of experience. The sessions covered a range of timely topics in fundraising, marketing, and management, providing actionable takeaways that participants could implement immediately.
Attendees left feeling inspired, empowered, and better equipped to take action in their roles. Many shared specific, meaningful takeaways that reflected both the technical skills and the mindset shifts the workshop provided.
One participant noted, “Starting today, we are developing our strategy for sustainability,” while another shared the takeaway, “Believing in myself because I have the tools.” Others highlighted the actionable skills learned: “Storytelling and donor stewardship,” “Plan and execute,” and “Don’t be afraid to ask donors about their asset structure.”
Several attendees also appreciated the practical, confidence-boosting mindset: “Just get started. Just take one small step,” and “We are overcomplicating several aspects of our appeals.” One summed it up simply: “Inspiration to take back to my teammates and make some progress and moves on what I learned here today.”
Post-workshop survey feedback reflected increased confidence, clarity, and a renewed commitment to applying the strategies and insights in their daily work.
Custom Professional Development Workshops
Investing in the Community: Building Nonprofit Capacity Through Workshops
Client: Tri-Star Trust
Tri-Star Trust wants to support local nonprofits by equipping leaders with relevant, actionable skills in fundraising, marketing, and management. Angela designed and delivered engaging full-day workshops two years in a row, helping professionals at more than 100 nonprofits grow their capacity and strengthen their organizations.
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The University of Houston development team was facing several challenges: building technical competency in donor cultivation, management, and soliciting non-cash gifts; improving time and task management; and creating cultural norms to foster collaboration and shared ownership. Leadership needed a solution that would address these issues while inspiring and equipping the team to grow.
Angela worked closely with leadership to develop a tailored workshop focused on strengthening leadership skills, boosting professionalism, and increasing confidence in donor engagement. The session included strategies for setting and securing donor meetings, soliciting non-cash gifts, and managing priorities effectively. She also facilitated exercises to help the team define and embrace shared cultural norms that promote collaboration.
Attendees left feeling inspired, empowered, and better equipped to take action in their roles. As one participant shared, “Success is possible with an effective plan, passion, and commitment to learn what we do not know. Thank you, Angela, for the strategies and uplifting presentation. The day flew by and I learned so much!” Another reflected, “Incredible presenter with very clear and compelling insights to the profession. Leadership isn’t just for those in senior leadership roles in the organization. I own my own path.” Survey feedback showed a noticeable increase in confidence, clarity, and motivation to apply the new skills and approaches right away.
Custom Professional Development Workshops
Building Skills, Strengthening Culture: University of Houston’s Development Day
Client: University of Houston
The University of Houston development team wanted to boost technical fundraising skills, improve time management, and establish a stronger team culture. Angela designed a highly customized professional development workshop addressing all three areas. The result: a more confident, equipped, and collaborative team ready to meet their goals.
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In 1998, forty-five adults with intellectual and development disabilities almost found themselves homeless when the independent community center they were living in was being relocated out of Houston. Out of this crisis, Noah’s House was established in Houston to give those adults stability and be a caring community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to grow in their independence. Since 1998, they have been financially supported by a small group of individuals and groups. In 2022, they realized a need to expand its audience base and grow its fundraising model into one that will cultivate growth and ensure longevity so its residents would never again face a threat of homelessness.
A full nonprofit assessment was conducted, which revealed that a lack of structure and planning created many of the issues the organization faced in growing its programs and funding. A development plan was given to the organization, with specific recommendations on how to steward and acquire new donors. The Executive Director went through our newly created Laying a Foundation for Growth online curriculum as well as had one-on-one coaching with Angela to ensure that Noah’s House has the systems in place to grow its revenue.
Noah’s House now has a Development Plan and full Nonprofit Assessment with recommendations on how to implement those ideas. Our external perspective gave the Board insight on how to diversify their revenue and what barriers the organization has to growth. For the first time in over twenty years, the Board is committed to developing a Strategic Plan by the end of 2022.
Laying a Foundation for Growth
Nonprofit Growth
Client: Noah’s House
Even organizations that have been around for over twenty years need to rethink to ensure they will survive the next twenty years. For the first time in over twenty years, the Board committed to developing a Strategic Plan by the end of 2022.
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SoléAna Stables provides equine-assisted therapeutic riding for people with special needs and veterans. They were renting land and arena space for their programs; however ideally they would own land to run their programs - which would be more cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable for them. To purchase land, they needed to substantially grow their revenue. However, although they had three events per year, their audience reach was stagnating and they did not know how or when this dream would be realized.
With a powerful mission and leadership ready for advancement, SoléAna Stables was ready to dive into the fundraising component of Laying a Foundation for Growth. After conducting a nonprofit assessment, Broad Oaks Consulting established non-event related giving programs, including creating a brand new base of sustaining givers. We created the processes and implemented the systems needed to set up the organization for growth. Our Foundational Growth Specialist helped execute the newly created Development Plan until a Development Director could be hired.
Since engaging with Broad Oaks, SoléAna Stables has doubled revenue every year since 2019. They have been able to hire a Development Director to continue stewarding donors and managing giving. Also…dreams really do come true! With the additional revenue raised, they are on the cusp of purchasing land to continue their programs. Well done SoléAna Stables!
Laying a Foundation for Growth
Moving from Events Based Fundraising to Diversified Fundraising
Client: SoléAna Stables
The organization’s events-based fundraising was not able to meet the organizational needs for growth and its dream to own land for its equine-assisted therapeutic riding programs. Broad Oaks helped establish a new base of sustaining givers as well as set up the organization to achieve its dream of purchasing land!
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The Landing exists to serve survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation with a trauma-informed approach fueled by the love of Christ. To support this crucial mission, The Landing needed to increase their unrestricted revenue streams to create more stability in their nonprofit. They hired Broad Oaks to provide consulting services and develop a new plan.
In a span of just 4 months, Broad Oaks:
- Reviewed and assessed the strategic plan.
- Conducted a full nonprofit assessment including seventeen 1:1 interviews of staff, volunteers, board members, and donors; delivered a comprehensive SWOT analysis of current NPO operations and fundraising; and delivered a development plan for the future to support the Assessment.
- Assisted with largest event of the year, nearly tripling the amount of money raised in the live event ask.
- Improved their sustaining gift program for them to continue independently at the end of the contract.
- Managed entire End of Year Campaign including developing the theme, email and social copywriting, the letter copy and list curation.
- Provided a Gift Acceptance Policy.
- Provided a donor stewardship plan.
Segmented year-end asks improved the rate of response. The sustaining gift program has continued to be a significant source of reliable unrestricted revenue. The systems coached and improved upon set them up to hire a full-time Development Director following the end of the contract.
Laying a Foundation for Growth
Fundraising Consulting and Plan Development
Client: The Landing
The Landing saw the potential for their unrestricted funding to not keep up with the demand for help they were providing. After a full nonprofit assessment, The Landing stabilized recurring giving, implemented new donor stewardship processes, and had a 3x growth in the live ask we did at their annual breakfast.
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Bauer College of Business had just hired a new Dean in 2019. One of the main issues brought to his attention by board members and substantial donors was the lack of reporting around their giving. Broad Oaks was brought in to develop a better understanding of the stewardship process, implement best-practices around donor management, and improve processes.
We worked on donor management for a diverse range of donor relationships including: giving, attending sporting events, scholarship process, major gifts, and more. Our in-depth process included:
- Evaluating the major gift donor experience
- Developing and implementing a donor stewardship processes
- Coaching and development for the Development Officers
- Reviewing college business plan
- Building a strategic plan for Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship
- Building a Case for Support to effectively communicate the Bauer College of Business’s Strategic Plan
We created the foundational development systems for Bauer, so they could then hire a Senior Director of Advancement to continue to build upon these processes and lead Bauer into the future.
Custom Professional Development Workshops
Donor Management and Stewardship
Client: Bauer College of Business
Donors were unclear about how funds were being used at the school. Our strategic plan helped them revamp their donor experience and better equip their gift officers.
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Executive Director Keynote 2021
Client: RaiseUp Families
In the midst of the pandemic, many nonprofits were closing their doors. RaiseUp Families knew they had to overcome many challenges to continue serving families facing eviction, so that no child falls behind academically. During their fundraiser, Angela Burgess inspires donors to think about how, as they rise up from their own struggles, they can lift up others with them. She shares about the resiliency of the clients and paints a picture of the next year, when they will serve double the number of families as the previous year.
In 2020, RaiseUp Families experienced turnover in its Executive Director role for the second time in 10 months. Fundraising had diminished by over 50%, leaving the organization unable to accept new families in need of rent and utility assistance into its program at a time when they needed it most.
Broad Oaks Consulting’s President/CEO Angela Burgess was contracted as Interim ED to explore merging with another organization, or the possibility of breathing new life into the 25 year old mission. Angela applied her own “Laying a Foundation for Growth” model to RaiseUp Families, including partnering with Solace Media to clarify their brand, story, and website, in order to reinvigorate and grow the program. Further, Angela partnered with The Bogle Agency to help expand audiences through social media.
Within 2 years, the organization has doubled its budget, added a new Director of Social Services to oversee programs, hired a Development Coordinator, and is on pace to serve twice as many families by June 30, 2023 as it did each year since 2017. The board has expanded by 50% and engaged donors have increased by more than 40%.
Laying a Foundation for Growth
Grow Program and Fundraising to Better Serve Community
Client: RaiseUp Families
COVID forced their largest fundraiser to be canceled. In under a week, we helped them create a virtual event and peer-to-peer campaign that raised the expected amount of the canceled event. Angela then applied her own “Laying a Foundation for Growth” model to RaiseUp Families to grow its program.
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