Biophilic Fundraising Strategy
Let’s bring the ‘Fun’ in Fundraising :)
The Challenge: Transforming BI's Financial Future
Facing a critical challenge, The Biophilic Institute (BI) was heavily reliant on summit ticket sales for 80% of its funding, making financial stability precarious. With only one corporate sponsor and occasional grants, we knew something had to change.
Who We Are and Our Mission
We are a team of 19 service designers collaborating with The Biophilic Institute (BI), a non-profit dedicated to fostering the biophilic movement by connecting professionals, thought leaders, and passionate individuals. Together, we strive to build a stronger network to champion the cause of the natural world.
What We Set Out to Do: Exploring Fundraising Strategies
Our small team of three decided to focus on expanding BI’s fundraising efforts. We dove into strategies that could enhance BI's financial stability and overall impact. We collaborated on every aspect, from Summit Expansion to Donation and Membership Models, to create a sustainable plan.
The Big Challenge: Diversifying BI's Funding Sources
BI has been heavily reliant on its Summit ticket sales (80% of its funding), with only one corporate sponsor and occasional grants. This posed a challenge:
How might we identify appropriate sources of funding for the Institute and strategize to procure and secure funds from these channels?
Where are we now?
Current Funding Sources:
Our Game Plan: Diversifying Beyond Current Sources
To diversify BI’s funding sources beyond the Summit, we identified and mapped opportunities on an effort-value matrix.
We decided to focus on the following areas:
How Can We Make the Summit Even Better?
Our team of three divided the tasks, with each member focusing on a specific area. I took the lead on Summit Expansion, while we collaborated on Donation and Membership together.
Year 1
Tiered ticket pricing & bundle deals
Making it affordable for everyone
Our Plan
Introduce tiered pricing to attract a diverse audience, with reduced-cost tickets for students and premium tiers for professionals.
Impact
Increases accessibility and community diversity, fostering inclusivity and growing the audience.
Metrics:
Track ticket sales by tier and demographic breakdown.
Livestream, virtual tickets, global reach
Bringing the summit to you
Our Plan
Offer livestreams and virtual tickets to make the summit accessible globally.
Impact
Expands reach internationally, engaging a global audience and increasing funds.
Metrics:
Track virtual ticket sales and geographic distribution.
Ticket Donation Program
Giving Back to the Community
Our Plan
Facilitate ticket donations from companies and individuals in exchange for promotion.
Impact
Removes financial barriers for attendees, promoting inclusivity and potentially converting recipients into active community contributors.
Metrics:
Track number and engagement of donated tickets.
Promotional Graphics & Sponsor Advertising
Making Sponsors Happy
Our Plan
Enhance sponsor visibility with promotional graphics and advertising opportunities.
Impact
Attracts more sponsors by showcasing their support, increasing funding and engagement.
Metrics:
Measure new sponsor acquisitions and satisfaction levels.
Product Offerings & Sales Revenue Boost
More Than Just a Summit
Our Plan
Introduce new merchandise and educational materials for sale.
Impact
Generates additional revenue streams and enhances attendee experience.
Metrics:
Track sales revenue from new products.
BI Excellence Award Ceremony
Celebrating Our Heroes
Our Plan
Recognize contributions to biophilic design through an award ceremony.
Impact
Motivates community members, enhancing BI’s prestige and fostering engagement.
Metrics:
Track nominations, winners, and engagement levels.
Global Multi-Location Summits
Taking BI Worldwide
Our Plan
Expand the summit globally with multilingual support and regional partnerships.
Impact
Cultivates a global network dedicated to biophilic design, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity.
Metrics:
Track global attendance, engagement diversity, and participant feedback.
Measuring Success
Summit Net Promoter Score (NPS)
Metrics:
Happy attendees equal positive word-of-mouth and increased attendance at future events.
How can we increase revenue through membership and donations?
Since our members overlap across summit, CSR, and research areas, we collaborated to develop a comprehensive membership and donation model.
Although we initially proposed a membership bundle, the board decided to focus on individual memberships due to the specific needs of our current and potential members.
Our Plan:
Participants contribute a small monthly amount, receiving tax advantages but no additional benefits.
Impact
Supports in establishing CSR funding, enabling companies to support our cause in a manageable way.
Individual Membership Model:
This model is tailored to the current and potential involvement of individuals through research, and summit activities. It encourages active participation and provides access to valuable resources and opportunities.
Benefits:
Access to BI’s growing library and case studies.
Discounted entry to the Summit.
A platform for influencing discussions on biophilic design.
Impact:
Fosters a collaborative environment that advances biophilic design.
Benefits:
Networking opportunities and project collaborations.
Enhancing professional credentials.
Why it works:
Supports professional growth while contributing to the community’s collective knowledge.
Benefits:
Access to educational resources.
Summit discounts.
Opportunities for academic and professional growth.
Why it works:
Cultivates the next generation of leaders in biophilic design.
Conclusion: Bringing BI to the Next Level
By implementing these strategies, BI can diversify its revenue streams, increase global engagement, and ensure sustainable growth. Each solution caters to different personas, making fundraising more inclusive, accessible, and effective. Importantly, by enhancing summit accessibility, we not only advance BI's mission but also boost ticket sales, convert attendees into members, and attract future volunteers—strengthening both our community and financial stability.
Key Learnings: Skills Gained from This Project
User-Centered Design
Developed skills in crafting inclusive solutions like tiered ticket pricing, enhancing accessibility for diverse audiences.
Collaboration & Communication
Honed abilities in leading a team and aligning diverse perspectives for a unified strategy, collaborating with 19 designers.
Problem-Solving & Flexibility
Improved at adapting and innovating to address BI’s funding challenges.
Data-Driven Decision Making
Enhanced skills in integrating analytics into strategic decisions by setting measurable goals.
Strategic Vision
Learned to craft the importance of balancing short-term wins with long-term growth for sustainable development.
Personal Growth
Gained skills to tackle complex challenges and drive impact in collaborative, mission-driven environments.
Let's innovate together!
Join me in creating wonders.
