Desperately seeking billionaires and other fundraising strategies that don’t work
Since I left Hollyhock as CEO last July, I've been working with retreat centers across North America as the Principal of Uncommon Partners. My work often focuses on developing stronger philanthropic revenue (similar work I did at Hollyhock for 7 years). Over the last year, I've started to notice similar trends across retreat centers and wanted to share some of those insights.
Remember when fundraising meant desperately asking, "Does anyone know any billionaires?" Yeah, we've all been there. But what if I told you that question really translates to: "I am grasping at straws and have no strategy"?
The money IS out there. But here's the catch—funders aren't just throwing cash at retreat centers because we're "awesome" or have a stunning mission. They're making social investments, and they want to see a shared vision that aligns with their values and desired outcomes in the world.
Philanthropy = Social Investing
Here's what changed everything for me: Every wealth holder is already a social investor. Whether they're funding retreat centers, frontline social justice organizations, food banks, or political parties, they're all seeking social impact. They're not just giving money away—they're investing in the future they want to see.
The magic happens when there's overlap between what a social investor cares about and what your retreat center does. Think Venn diagrams: where your retreat center's purpose intersects with a funder's vision for change, that's where the real conversations begin. When you can articulate how your specific work (like depolarization programming) aligns with their specific impact goals (like healing societal divisions), you've moved from asking for charity to proposing partnership.
The Secret Sauce: Purpose + Activities = Investment
Think of it like this three-layer cake:
Purpose (the foundation): A bold, precise reason why you exist that leadership truly believes
Activities (the filling): Clear, coherent actions that represent your purpose in action
Fundraising (the frosting): Inspiring investors through your activities
As Batman wisely said: "It's not who you are underneath, but what you do that defines you." Your activities ARE your purpose in action, and each one should attract the right social investors who share your vision.
But here's the thing we often miss: every activity you do is actually attracting multiple potential investors. When you run a land healing program, you're not just doing good work—you're demonstrating your values in action to environmental funders, Indigenous sovereignty supporters, and regenerative agriculture advocates. Each authentic activity becomes a beacon for aligned funders.
The Real Work Breakdown:
60% - Get Real: What's our actual purpose? Do our activities reflect it? Do we believe it? Are we being coherent about what we stand for?
20% - Determine Your Model: Are we better suited for patron or impact investment? Which activities are most fundable? How do we narrative our work to align with potential funders' social impact goals?
20% - Start Conversations: Who in our network would support this work? Remember, they're not just donors—they're potential partners in social change.
The beautiful thing about this approach? When you get clear on your purpose and activities, the right funders start finding YOU. Instead of chasing every grant opportunity, you become magnetic to the social investors who are already looking for exactly what you do.
Ready to move beyond billionaire hunting? Let's build some purpose-driven fundraising strategies that actually work! 🎯
Did you miss the Community Call? Watch here.
