building the future

Building the future is a two-year major gifts challenge and coaching program It offer a major gift challenge of up to $25,000, along with six training sessions and 18 hours of individual organizational coaching with an experienced development professional.

the program

Building the Future is funded through the Partners for the Future Fund, an anonymous donor advised fund at ECF. Since 2010, that fund has supported the Partners for the Future program. Building the Future is a two year program in which up to six organizations work in a cohort. In six training sessions and six peer learning sessions. Each organization also receives 18 hours of individual coaching with an experienced development consultant, and a matching major gift challenge of up to $25,000.

The first cohort were selected in late 2017 and worked together through November 2019. In total, they raised $135,000 in new and increased major gifts and developed skills to continue to successfully attract and retain investors in their important work. They are Books & Breakfast, Cherry Preschool, Curt’s Café, Infant Welfare Society of Evanston, Learning Bridge Early Childhood Center, and Mudlark Theater.

A second cohort was selected in the fall 2019 and are engaged in the program during 2020-21. They are Childcare Network of Evanston, Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse, Family Promise, Institute for Therapy through the Arts, Meals on Wheels NEI, and PEER Services.

Through the continued generosity of our PFF donor, ECF has convened two cohorts of Building the Future grantees. All twelve participant organizations not only successfully completed their matching gift challenges, but were able to build sustainable relationships with major gift donors that maintained their increased level of giving into the following year. ECF is currently convening a 2023 cohort for up to six selected organizations. The Building the Future program is by invitation only.