Engagement at a Glance Snapshot
Pregnancy Care Center of Wayne County came to us with a lot going for them: well-loved events, dozens of partner churches, and decades of loyal supporters. Through a fundraising and marketing audit, we helped them see where those strengths could become long-term risks and developed a plan to set them up for lasting stability.
A few of the outcomes:
- A record-breaking gala: $338K raised, including $90K in sponsorships, up 6.29% from last year
- A move from accounting software to a dedicated donor CRM
- Significant lapsed donor value identified and ready to reconnect with
- A plan to capture and preserve decades of donor relationships
- An updated baby bottle campaign that turns anonymous gifts into lasting donor relationships
- A stronger legacy giving program with a new entry point and meaningful donor appreciation
- Clear messaging to help supporters understand and fill a state funding gap
The Challenge
Pregnancy Care Center of Wayne County wasn’t short on support. Their gala draws hundreds of guests every year, and their bunny breakfast fills the room with families. More than 70 churches participate in their baby bottle campaign, and their founder has built donor relationships for more than four decades.
By almost any measure, they were strong. But as we dug in, we found that some of those strengths came with risks to their long-term stability.
Their fundraising lived in their accounting software, mixed in with everyday expenses like reimbursements and supplies. Their client-facing system had no donor features, and they had no fundraising reports. Pulling a list of lapsed donors had once taken three months. Without clear data, it was hard to know what was working and what wasn’t.
Many of their most important relationships lived with one person. Their founder had spent decades building trust with supporters. As the organization planned for the future, they wanted to make sure that history and those connections would carry forward.
Their baby bottle campaign raised around $80,000 a year, but it brought in mostly loose change and almost no contact information. Hundreds of people saw themselves as supporters, but the center had no way to thank them or stay in touch. As people carry less cash, the campaign would get even harder to sustain.
They also lost six figures in state funding when a program was cut, but supporters didn’t know.
Plus, their most committed donors, people giving $10,000 a year for three years, weren’t receiving any special appreciation or communication.
So the challenge wasn’t raising support today. It was making sure the support they’d built would last. How do we keep track of every relationship? How do we turn one-time givers into known supporters? And how do we prepare for the next chapter while honoring decades of faithful work?
The Solution
Our work started with a fundraising and marketing audit. We wanted to protect what was working and create the systems to help it last.
First, we recommended a dedicated donor CRM. Their accounting software tracked finances, but it was never designed to manage relationships. A donor CRM gave them one place to see every supporter, track giving history, and stay in touch.
To show what’s possible, we ran a five-year lapsed donor analysis. That meant assigning donor IDs to individual transactions in their accounting data before we could begin. The results revealed significant lapsed donor value, with past supporters ready to be invited back into the mission. Once their new CRM is up and running, they’ll be able to run this analysis on their own anytime.
We set up reporting so they can make more strategic decisions. With lifecycle and fundraising reports in place, the team can see which donors are growing, which are drifting, and which efforts are working.
We helped them preserve decades of relationships. We recommended documenting their founder’s insights donor by donor as they go: who each supporter is, what they care about, and how they like to stay connected. That way, decades of trust can carry forward to the next generation of leadership.
We optimized their baby bottle campaign. Churches and families love the hands-on connection of filling a bottle for local moms and babies. We recommended keeping that and adding a QR code or email sign-up paired with a valuable free resource. That way, every bottle can build a new relationship alongside the gift.
We helped them talk about the funding gap. Losing six figures in state funding is significant. Our team recommended telling supporters openly about the change so they can step in and keep services running without interruption.
We strengthened their legacy giving program. Their most committed donors had the capacity and desire to do even more, but there was no special way to engage them. We recommended adding a lower pledge level to bring in more donors and hosting inner-circle dinners in their newly updated facility, with updates and communication just for this group.
In many ways, this engagement helped Pregnancy Care Center of Wayne County strengthen its core differentiators. Now they have the systems, tools, and plan to keep growing for years to come.
The Results
Pregnancy Care Center of Wayne County needed a way to sustain its strengths for years to come.
The momentum is already showing. Their most recent gala was their best yet, raising 6.29% more than last year.
Some of the wins:
- A record-breaking gala, with $338K raised and $90K in sponsorships
- A dedicated donor CRM in progress, with lapsed donor analysis they can run themselves
- Significant lapsed donor value identified and ready to reconnect with
- A strategic plan to preserve decades of donor relationships
- A baby bottle campaign set up to build their donor list, not just collect change
- A legacy giving program with a new entry point and meaningful appreciation
- An easy way to talk with supporters about the state funding gap
Most importantly, Pregnancy Care Center of Wayne County is no longer relying only on what’s worked in the past. They’re building on decades of faithful work with the systems to carry it forward.
Quick Marketing Tip
Every gift should start a relationship.
If someone gives through an event, a campaign, or a donation jar, but you never learn their name or email, you can’t thank them, update them, or invite them back.
Here’s the fix:
Add a QR code to anything tangible, like baby bottles, table cards, or envelopes, and pair it with something valuable, such as a short impact story, a free resource, or a thank-you video. Then ask for an email address to receive it.
You want to make sure everyone who cares about your mission has a way to stay connected to it.
Meet Our Client: Pregnancy Care Center of Wayne County
Pregnancy Care Center of Wayne County serves women, men, and families in Wayne County, Ohio, with locations in Wooster and Orrville. Guided by their mission to engage, equip, and empower, they offer free and confidential care to anyone facing an unexpected pregnancy.
Backed by decades of faithful supporters, dozens of partner churches, and community events that bring hundreds of people together each year, Pregnancy Care Center of Wayne County ensures no one in the community faces an unexpected pregnancy alone.
Let’s Talk
Your strengths today can become your stability tomorrow. With the right systems in place, every relationship you’ve built can grow and carry your mission forward for years to come.
Ready to build fundraising that lasts? Let’s talk.
