Wellspring Family Services, Seattle, Washington

From 2005-2009, The Collins Group provided counsel to Family Services (now Wellspring Family Services) to help them secure their first permanent home and expand their fundraising efforts for new program initiatives and endowment. Through a feasibility study in 2005, TCG helped Family Services assess community support for a campaign to allow the human services agency to build capacity and stability to provide lasting solutions for homeless families in the Seattle/King County community. At the conclusion of the study, The Collins Group found potential for a $6.5-7.5M million fundraising goal. After implementing campaign advancement priorities, including expanding capacity building to build awareness of the organization and grow a sustainable fund raising program, Family Services launched its capital campaign in 2006 with stretch giving by board members and was selected as Seattle Rotary’s Centennial Project. The collective giving by Rotarians topped $4 million and enabled Family Services to expand its vision for the new Rotary Support Center for Families and establish an overall project goal of $19.5 million, including $12.5 million from philanthropic and government sources, twice the level identified in the feasibility study. In 2008 the Kresge Foundation extended a prestigious challenge grant award to help further expand the base of first-time major donors and engage the whole community in leaving a footprint on the “Path to Lasting Solutions.” As a result of the successful advancement effort and campaign, Family Services is meeting its fundraising goals, received its first ever million dollar gifts from foundations and an individual, has doubled its donor base, is more recognized today as a leader in providing solutions to families facing multiple challenges including homelessness, domestic violence and mental health and is recognized for its groundbreaking work in infant mental health. (2005-2009)