Northside Achievement Zone
Our Discovery
Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ) is committed to permanently closing the achievement gap and ending generational poverty in North Minneapolis. After the murder of George Floyd, a New York Times Op-Ed article on June 2, 2020 highlighted NAZ’s work. As a result of that attention, the organization began receiving new first-time gifts from donors around the US. NAZ engaged CFA to help create a system to build relationships with their new donors and to conduct a one-year major gifts campaign, NAZ NOW, to raise $5,000,000 from 500 donors.
Our Approach
CFA worked with NAZ’s development committee and staff to activate their major gifts function, broaden their donor base, and solicit multi-year contributions. The CFA team helped segment NAZ’s prospects and create strategies for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. As part of the strategy, the advancement team implemented what we dubbed a “4×4 match” whereby four donors—each giving $100,000—would release their gift when the campaign reached another 100 donors.
The Results
A new major gifts system was put in place which outlined gift thresholds, identified and qualified prospects, set strategy for the advancement team to connect with donors, and implemented a recognition and stewardship plan. The NAZ NOW campaign raised $8,000,000 from over 700 donors, surpassing their goal by more than 60 percent. NAZ capped off this success on April 30, 2022 with its inaugural SOARNorth Gala, which raised an additional $4.1 million in a single night.
