OUR CLIENTS
Bold & passionate non-profits driving social impact.
WHO WE WORK WITH
Katalyst works with nonprofits of all sizes, sectors, and stages of development.
We specialize in helping emerging nonprofits create a grant strategy, as well as helping small to mid-size organizations become more strategic with their grant development.
CASE STUDIES
CASE STUDY ONE: THANDA
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
Thanda’s programs were developed in response to the needs of the historically disadvantaged Mtwalume community and are centered around Early Childhood Development, Education, and Organic Farming. Through these programs, Thanda seeks to make significant strides toward sustainable development and empower future generations with the skills necessary to build a better future for their communities, our nation, and our planet.
Sector: Education, Agriculture, Youth Development
Founded: 2008
Started with Katalyst: May 2014
Location: Mtwalume, South Africa
Annual Budget: Approximately $1.2 million
CHALLENGE:
With an administrative team of just three people (including the Executive Director), it would be an extreme understatement to say that Thanda had limited capacity. The organization’s strategic direction was evolving, but its messaging was not reflective of the exciting new changes taking place. Thanda’s donor management system lived largely in Excel spreadsheets and in the Executive Director’s brain – making it challenging to retain and expand donor relationships. Furthermore, with no Development team and no Grant Writer on staff, it was nearly impossible for the organization to expand its grant portfolio.
RESPONSE:
Katalyst developed a deep understanding of the organization to help define and articulate its goals, mission, and programs. After a complete overhaul of Thanda’s branding and website, Katalyst established multiple systems and processes to help Thanda engage its existing donors and attract new ones. As part of this effort, Katalyst developed a comprehensive fundraising and marketing strategy, including a strategic grant program – designed to help Thanda increase its annual revenue and expand its programs.
IMPACT:
One of Thanda’s greatest strengths is its ability to communicate impact. The organization invests time and resources into the development of robust monitoring and evaluation systems, which have proven invaluable in their grant program. Over the course of the past eight years, Katalyst has secured over $5.5 million for Thanda, representing a 71384% increase in funding from foundation grants. In that same span of time, Katalyst secured 53 new funders for Thanda – 70% of which were either multi-year agreements or were renewed annually.
CASE STUDY TWO: EDUCATION AFRICA
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
Established in 1992, Education Africa strives to reach and uplift the poorest of the poor. They aim to assist disadvantaged South Africans in their quest to obtain a quality, relevant education in order to ensure that they are in a position to become global citizens and a competitive, productive element in the local job market.
Sector: Education, Youth Development, Arts
Founded: 1992
Started with Katalyst: September 2018
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Annual Budget: Approximately $580,000
CHALLENGE:
Before partnering with Katalyst, Education Africa was a successful organization with 27 years of experience. They relied mostly on fundraising events and major gifts from private foundations as their primary source of revenue. They run a relatively lean organization with a small administration team and no Development team, leaving most of the fundraising responsibilities to fall on the Executive Director. As a result, Education Africa had limited capacity to apply for grant funding.
RESPONSE:
Katalyst saw an opportunity for Education Africa to expand their grant portfolio and built a grant program for Education Africa that opened new doors for the organization. We continue to bring new prospects to Education Africa – both internationally and domestically – and find creative ways to align Education Africa’s work with funders across multiple sectors.
IMPACT:
In the past three years, Katalyst has raised over $530,000 for Education Africa, representing a significant increase in funding from foundation grants. In the past year alone, Katalyst won four new funders for Education Africa. Additionally, Katalyst helped Education Africa secure a multi-year agreement with an international funder that has become the largest funder of their Music program.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Digital Butter
"Jenna is the best grant writer I have ever worked with and has an incredible talent in communications. She is not only great at her job but also easy to work with. I have since recommended Jenna to every nonprofit client I have."