Is Your Organisation Fit for Philanthropy? Key Steps to Transform Your Fundraising

31 Jul

Many organisations talk about wanting to “grow philanthropy” or achieve a major step-change in their fundraising. It’s an appealing ambition – who wouldn’t want to unlock bigger gifts, longer-term partnerships, and deeper impact? But the reality is, successful philanthropy can’t be bolted on. It’s not a tactic or a campaign you can quickly launch and expect transformational results.

True philanthropy requires a shift in how an organisation thinks and operates. It asks leaders to build trust over time, to create space for meaningful relationships, and to connect their mission to what truly matters to donors. Without these foundations in place, even the most well-resourced fundraising efforts will struggle to deliver lasting change.

Drawing on insights from Natalie Collin, OKC's Associate Director of Philanthropy and Capital Campaigns, here’s what it really takes to make philanthropy work – and what every organisation aiming for significant growth must prioritise.

1. Understand what philanthropy really is

Philanthropy isn’t about asking for money – it’s about inviting donors to live out their values and be part of something meaningful to them. At its heart, philanthropy is about relationships – built on trust, shared purpose, and mutual care, not on transactional requests. Think of it like building a great friendship; it takes time, authenticity, and genuine connection. At the end of the day, people give to people.

2. CEO buy-in is non-negotiable

No philanthropy strategy can succeed without genuine and ongoing commitment from the top. The CEO sets the tone for the entire organisation. When they actively prioritise time for building and nurturing donor relationships—alongside the Board, leadership team, staff, and volunteers—philanthropy becomes part of the organisation’s DNA. It stops being “something the fundraising team does” to a shared responsibility and a core part of the mission. This cultural alignment ensures that donors feel valued and connected at every level of the organisation, enabling transformational growth.

3. You need the right person leading it

Successful philanthropy needs a leader who is more than just a good fundraiser. A great philanthropy manager or director is a relationship-builder, storyteller, and strategic thinker.

They:

Connect the dots between your mission and what matters to each partner
Build trust and inspire with clarity and purpose
Bring people together to achieve shared goals
Keep the big picture in mind while managing the important details

Without this calibre of leadership, philanthropy efforts risk becoming fragmented or purely transactional, rather than a sustained movement of shared values and impact.

4. Good tools make a big difference

Philanthropy thrives on consistency and care, and that’s hard to deliver without the right systems. Having a solid CRM (and actually using it well!) makes it much easier to build long-term support. It helps you to keep track of each donor’s journey, connect consistently and thoughtfully, and build a real sense of care. Internally, it’s also how you spot patterns, plan better, and keep everyone on the same page.

5. Be clear about why you exist – and where you’re going:

People want to support organisations that are going somewhere. A theory of change is simply a clear explanation of how your activities lead to the change you want to see in the world. When paired with a strategic plan, it helps donors understand exactly how their support creates impact. But it’s not just about the big vision — you also need a roadmap that shows what you’re focused on in the short term (the next 6–12 months) and where you're heading longer term (over 1–3+ years). That clarity builds trust and gives people confidence and matters now and in the future, and how they can be part of it.

6. Be memorable

Your brand is more than a logo – it’s how people experience and remember you. Your marketing, communications, and fundraising all need to work together. When you clearly communicate who you are, what you stand for, and where you're going (through regular updates, stories, and honest reflections), you become a cause that people want to support. This is what keeps philanthropy strong.

Bringing it all together

Philanthropy demands a deep commitment to authenticity, patience, and alignment across the organisation. Being truly ‘fit for philanthropy’ means embedding a values-aligned approach into your culture, strategy, and day-to-day actions. It’s top down, and bottom up. Everyone has a role to play to make philanthropy work.

Philanthropy is fundamentally about nurturing meaningful relationships where supporters feel connected, heard, and valued. When organisations get this right, donors move beyond transactions to become invested partners who bring not only their gifts but their belief, time, and voices to the cause.

With over 20 years of working alongside the not-for-profit sector, we’ve seen at OKC how strong, authentic relationships create resilience and momentum, fueling impact that extends far beyond individual campaigns or fundraising targets. If your organisation is aiming for a step-change in philanthropy, the path begins by investing in these foundations. It requires thoughtful leadership, authentic relationships, and clear strategic focus.

Building this readiness isn’t quick or easy, but organisations that do so set themselves up to grow sustainably, deepen impact, and foster genuine partnerships that last well beyond any single campaign.

At OKC we are privileged to work with many clients across the charity sector and to live through our own vision: to enable philanthropic impact. Transforming your approach to philanthropy starts with a conversation. Contact OKC today for a free 30-minute consultation call and discover what being ‘fit for philanthropy’ really means for your organisation.

Sarah Jordan