Quarry Hill Nature Center
Our Discovery
Quarry Hill Nature Center (QHNC) has served as a premier environmental learning destination in Rochester, Minnesota, since 1972, offering year-round natural science classes, day camps, trips, and recreation activities throughout the 329-acre park.
QHNC engaged CFA to conduct a first-ever development assessment as the organization prepared to celebrate its 50th Anniversary and its development team sought to establish a more diversified and sustainable fundraising strategy.
Our Approach
The development assessment process included a rigorous review of fundraising materials, processes, and donor data. CFA interviewed key internal and external stakeholders to identify key areas of strength and opportunity within QHNC’s fundraising operations and programs.
CFA’s recommendations included leveraging the 50th Anniversary for fundraising success, creating annual fundraising plans, customizing messages and segmenting communication, launching new fundraising programs, and creating a long-term development strategic plan.
At the assessment’s conclusion, CFA’s principal recommendation included hiring a full-time development staff position in addition to leveraging the organization’s new donor CRM system to expand individual donor engagement.
The Results
CFA continued to support QHNC following our development assessment by providing fundraising counsel to support the preparation and planning for their successful 50th Anniversary Gala. A capstone event for QHNC’s campaign, the event exceeded its fundraising goal and raised $272,350 for the endowment: the fund’s largest growth in a single year.
CFA also supported QHNC with the creation of an annual plan and ongoing appeal support. Most recently, QHNC hired a Development Manager who will be critical to increasing fundraising capacity.
“CFA came highly recommended to us by a similarly missioned nonprofit, and after working with them, I can see why. The entire team was an absolute pleasure to work with. I immediately felt they were invested in us, our mission, and helping us grow our fundraising acumen. We wanted an honest, in-depth, and analytical look at our nonprofit fundraising program. They did all that and more! CFA helped us see our gaps and opportunities, and then provided us with the strategic guidance that has set us on a path toward a more diversified and sustainable fundraising program. We couldn’t be more pleased with the team at CFA!”
– Pamela Meyer, Executive Director
