Case study

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Caring Network | A Fundraising Gala Redefined: Doubling Donations and Transforming Lives

Background: Breaking Barriers in Fundraising

Caring Network, a family of women’s care centers dedicated to supporting mothers and unborn babies through crisis pregnancies, has been hosting annual fundraising Galas for over 40 years. These events, attended by as many as 1,000 people, were beloved by the community but failed to yield significant financial impact.

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Despite exponential growth in their programs and reach, Caring Network’s annual Gala results consistently plateaued at $400,000, with transactional giving and little connection to major donors.

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The challenge was clear: the organization needed a fresh approach to align donors’ passion with their giving capacity and to elevate the event’s impact on their operating budget.

The Turning Point: Partnering with Westfall Gold

After attending a Westfall Gold event for another nonprofit, Caring Network’s president witnessed firsthand the transformative power of storytelling and donor engagement. Inspired, he approached Westfall Gold to reimagine their Gala and deliver a new experience for their attendees.

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Westfall Gold applied its proven methodology for major donor weekends to this one-night event.

Key Elements of Collaboration

Wealth Analytics: Using advanced wealth analytics, Westfall Gold helped Caring Network identify and prioritize high-capacity donors in their audience.

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Storytelling Mastery: Westfall Gold crafted compelling narratives to highlight Caring Network’s mission and impact, equipping the president with a vision speech that resonated deeply with attendees.

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Event Design: From scriptwriting to consulting on development strategies, Westfall Gold provided comprehensive guidance, ensuring every element of the evening was intentional and aligned with donor engagement best practices.

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Focused Audience Strategy: By narrowing the guest list to a more targeted audience, the event fostered deeper connections and heightened generosity.

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Sample Portion of Giving Portfolio:

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Results: Doubling Impact in One Night

The reimagined Gala exceeded all expectations, achieving record-breaking results:

  • Total Raised: $800,000—double the previous year’s total—including $650,000 raised during the event and a $150,000 matching gift.
  • Increased Donor Engagement: The 403 gift submissions and pledges represented a higher average gift of $1,612 per giving unit, compared to $827 the previous year.
  • Future Potential: Over 200 households attended but had not yet given, representing an untapped opportunity for ongoing engagement.

The success of the evening also created a ripple effect beyond the Gala. Recognizing the power of the president’s newly refined vision speech, churches nationwide invited him to share Caring Network’s mission with their congregations, further expanding the organization’s influence and donor base.

"After several years of stagnant night-of-income at our events, their team helped us strategize and execute a plan to not only get the right people in the room but also significantly increase night-of giving. Their expertise in event-based fundraising is unparalleled, and while the investment is significant, the results and their commitment to excellence make it absolutely worthwhile."

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- Kirt Wiggins

President | Caring Network