Donor Strategy

We want to work with a skilled volunteer who can help us develop a Donor Strategy framework that strengthens and sustains individual giving for Project Breaking Barriers. This strategy will help us move from ad hoc donor outreach to a clear, intentional approach that grows support for our youth programs focused on career exposure, academic enrichment, and workforce readiness.

Specifically, the volunteer will help us create a Donor Strategy framework that:

o Defines key donor segments (e.g., first-time donors, recurring donors, major donors, champions/ambassadors)
o Maps clear donor journeys from initial engagement to deeper, long-term support
o Recommends giving levels and donation pathways aligned with organizational capacity
o Develops messaging tied directly to youth outcomes (academic enrichment, career awareness, confidence-building, access to opportunity)
o Outlines donor stewardship and retention tactics, including how and when we communicate impact
o Provides a realistic 6–12 month implementation plan with simple, manageable tool recommendations

The volunteer will support this work by:
• Reviewing our current donor practices, messaging, and data at a high level
• Helping us prioritize strategies that are actionable and sustainable for a growing organization
• Advising on best practices while tailoring recommendations to our size and stage

Given Taproot’s engagement structure, we expect this work to be completed over several weeks, with the volunteer contributing 2–5 hours per week through working sessions, document review, and strategic guidance. Our team will provide background materials, clarify goals, and offer timely feedback to ensure the project stays focused and productive.

The final deliverable will be a practical, ready-to-use Donor Strategy that leadership and board members can immediately begin implementing to strengthen donor relationships and increase long-term support for the young people we serve.

Project Breaking Barriers exists to expand access, exposure, and opportunity for youth ages 13–20 by combining career exploration, academic enrichment, and workforce readiness especially for young people who face systemic barriers to opportunity.
This Donor Strategy project directly supports our mission by helping us build a sustainable base of individual supporters who understand why our work matters and how their contributions translate into real outcomes for young people. A clear donor strategy allows us to move beyond one-time gifts and toward long-term relationships that fund consistent, high-quality programming.
By contributing their expertise, the volunteer will help us:
• Secure more stable funding to deliver academic enrichment, career exposure, and hands-on learning experiences
• Increase our ability to serve more youth and deepen program quality
• Strengthen donor communication so supporters clearly see the impact of their giving on student confidence, skills, and future pathways
• Reduce staff time spent on ad hoc fundraising, allowing our team to focus more fully on youth programming and support
The strategy developed through this project will directly influence how resources flow to the young people we serve supporting things like curriculum materials, guest professionals, learning activities, and program expansion. It will also help donors feel connected to the students and outcomes they are investing in.
For volunteers, this project offers the opportunity to make a multiplier impact. Their strategic guidance won’t just support one campaign, it will help shape how Project Breaking Barriers funds its mission for years to come, creating lasting benefits for the youth and communities we serve.

Project Breaking Barriers is prepared to be a thoughtful, organized, and responsive pro bono partner for this Donor Strategy project. Organizational leadership and our board are aligned on the importance of strengthening individual giving as a core component of long-term sustainability, and there is clear internal commitment to implementing the outcomes of this work.
To prepare for this project, we have:
• Clarified our program model, target population (youth ages 13–20), and outcomes, including career exposure, academic enrichment, and workforce readiness
• Identified our current donor touchpoints and outreach efforts, providing a realistic baseline from which to build
• Secured leadership buy-in to move toward a more intentional donor engagement and stewardship approach
• Designated a single project lead to coordinate communication, share materials, and provide timely feedback
During the engagement, we will support the volunteer by:
• Providing background materials such as mission messaging, program descriptions, and existing donor communications
• Sharing available donor data and insights at an appropriate level for strategy development
• Being clear about organizational capacity so recommendations remain practical and sustainable
• Maintaining consistent communication and decision-making to respect the volunteer’s 2–5 hour/week commitment
Implementation is a priority. Once complete, the Donor Strategy will be:
• Used by leadership and board members to guide donor outreach and relationship-building
• Integrated into fundraising calendars and communications
• Applied to giving campaigns, donor stewardship efforts, and donor retention activities
• Used as a living framework that we revisit and refine as the organization grows
We value collaboration, transparency, and follow-through. By coming prepared, staying engaged, and committing to execution, we aim to ensure this project is both a meaningful pro bono experience and a lasting contribution to our ability to serve youth and expand opportunity.