Strengthening Financial Resilience Through Partnership
Catapult grantees told their funder they were under growing pressure to diversify funding and become more resilient.
- Client
- Rideau Hall Foundation, Catapult Canada and CCBI
- Timeframe
- Cohort programme
- Focus
- Fundraising
- Our work
- A co-created programme of foundational sessionspractical toolssmall-group coaching clinics built around grassroots realities
24 organisations actively engaged
~10 organisations in deep-dive coaching clinics
Templates and workbooks for funding mix, reserves and cashflow
Toolkit published on the Catapult website
Where it started
A programme built from grantee feedback
This initiative was co-created with CCBI in direct response to critical feedback from Catapult grantees. During the yearly grantees conference, participants mentioned growing pressures to diversify funding and become more resilient.
The context
Underserved organisations, unstable funding
Youth-serving organizations are typically underserved throughout Canada and navigate pervasive funding instability, restricted and limited grants and institutional exclusion. By centering the lived experiences of grassroots organizations, the program aimed to bridge the gap between short-term restricted grants and long-term sustainability.
What was in the toolkit
- 01
Funding mix maps
- 02
Partnership targets
- 03
Reserve planning
- 04
Grant tracking tools
- 05
Cashflow strategizing
The structure
Broad foundations, then tailored support
The program began with a general introductory session for the entire cohort, followed by practical tools including templates and workbooks.
Around ten organizations opted into optional coaching sessions, where small groups of two to four organizations participated in deep-dive clinics on topics of their choice, such as individual giving, revenue generation and financial planning.
What changed
Actionable tactics, not theory
A total of 24 organizations were actively engaged throughout the process. Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many noting they left the sessions equipped with actionable tactics to diversify their revenue pathways.
This initiative serves as an inspiring example of donors truly listening and responding to grantee needs, fostering a more resilient and supported nonprofit ecosystem.
The Financial Resilience Toolkit
The toolkit is featured on the Rideau Hall Foundation Catapult website and is available for organisations to use.
“This initiative is an example of donors truly listening and responding to grantee needs.”
YAMM · Coaching team
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