CASE STUDY

Bread for the City

Needing to expand their in-house capacity, Bread for the City was looking to outsource their grant writing. But with our Fired Up Grants service, they gained an experienced thought partner who has helped them generate nearly $12 million in revenue in four years.

For nearly 50 years, Bread for the City has nurtured DC residents living with low incomes. They provide support to meet their clients’ basic needs, and they work tirelessly to uproot the major drivers of poverty – systemic racism and inequality – through community organizing and public advocacy.

As this progressive powerhouse grew, so did their need for an experienced strategic partner with a commitment to anti-racism, social justice, and community centered fundraising.

Spark Point has been that partner since 2017, providing fully outsourced grant writing services through our Fired Up Grants program and generating almost $12 million in revenue – a staggering 2,400X return on investment. This work helped them increase their annual budget from just under $11 million to more than $15 million in four years.

In a testament to our focus on organic growth, nearly 40% of this revenue came from new funders and 10% from lapsed funders. Our consistent focus on funder stewardship also paid off, with 25% of funds raised coming from existing funders giving higher amounts.

When you believe in your client’s mission as if it were your own, your reports, updates, and conversations are more compelling, influencing investors’ funding decisions, grant making, and advocacy work.

As embedded members of their development team with more than four years of institutional knowledge, we are able to work independently. Our constant prospecting, pursuit of new funding opportunities, and optimizing existing funding relationships gives the team time back to focus on strategy and growth. With us, Bread for the City has more than just a vendor – they have a strategic partner firing up their fundraising.

TESTIMONIAL

"In almost four years working together, Spark Point and Bread for the City have built a strategic and high-impact partnership that has supported our growth from a budget of almost $11 million to more than $15 million.  During that time, Spark Point's team has raised almost $12 million to support our programs and to help us build our Michelle Obama Southeast Center, which opened in early 2021.  Not only are they great partners, but they are truly a joy to work with.  We love Spark Point Fundraising!"

 

Kristen Kozlowski, Associate Director of Development
Bread for the City

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