Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation on developing donor commitment

Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation (DAAFF) began coaching with our Northern Territory State Manager in 2015.
Our state managers provide on-the-ground support and one-on-one advice to arts companies around Australia, working to strengthen both the professional development of individuals within arts organisations and the fundraising strategies of companies and their boards.
Our coaching and mentoring service focuses on small to medium companies with a range of challenges; from practical fundraising planning and advice, to assisting them to articulate the impact of their work to the broader community and grow their supporter base.
DAAFF began coaching with our Northern Territory Manager Gwen Gaff in 2015. This set them on a path to launch into private sector funding. The foundation’s first successful crowdfunding campaign helped the organisation understand who its donors were and how to target them, and to hone their case for support.
By December 2015, DAAFF developed its first fundraising strategy, using an all-of-organisation approach, and employed a fundraising consultant. It then secured a business development manager to support staff and board.
Further coaching and mentoring helped DAAFF redevelop its donor programs, which it relaunched in 2016. In mid-2016 DAAFF received Plus1 matched funding from us and leveraged this incentive to attract new supporters and secure a three-year donor commitment.
Through ongoing coaching and mentoring we’ve provided support, strategy direction and guidance on the organisational resources needed to drive private sector fundraising; and we’ve encouraged continued engagement with our full suite of services, programs and events, creating sustainable, best practice outcomes for the organisation.