Helping DBIP build a sustainable fundraising engine to raise $9 million

From reactive, founder-led fundraising model to a comprehensive fundraising system with a $4 million commitment from local government

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How MAP helped

Through an 18-month engagement, MAP provided embedded strategy and execution support, helping DBIP move from a reactive, founder-led fundraising model into a structured development program capable of securing multi-million-dollar commitments.

$5M+ secured

Funding commitments from local government and private donors, including $4M from Denver City Council.

$9M goal in motion

Multi-year fundraising plan launched with $10–15M pipeline mapped.

Donor systems built

Salesforce optimized; briefs, dashboards, and stewardship systems created to sustain growth.

BASED IN
Denver, Colorado
SECTOR
Background

DBIP was founded to pioneer the largest Basic Income pilot in the United States, testing the impact of direct cash assistance on unhoused individuals in Denver. As momentum grew — including a $4M public commitment from the Denver City Council — DBIP needed to scale private fundraising to meet ambitious multi-year goals. With the executive director leading both operations and development, fundraising remained reactive and unsustainable.

The Challenge
  • Ambitious revenue goals: $9M needed in FY24; $10–15M targeted long-term.
  • Concentrated funding: Heavy reliance on a small group of funders (City of Denver, Beacon Fund, Colorado Trust).
  • No scalable systems: Lacked tools to track, manage, and expand donor relationships.
  • Leadership bandwidth: Executive director stretched thin between program oversight and fundraising.
How We Embedded
  • Strategic Planning & Fundraising Assessment
  • Messaging & Case Development
  • Major Donor Strategy & Activation
  • Board Engagement Strategy & Training
  • Salesforce CRM & Dashboard Optimization
  • Prospect Research & Donor Profiles
  • Stewardship Plan Development
  • Proposal & Pitch Execution
  • Fundraising Capacity Support
  • Coaching & Training for staff and leadership
The Solution

Discovery & Strategy

Developed a multi-tier fundraising plan with goals for cultivation, stewardship, and prospecting.

Pipeline & Prospecting

Introduced and profiled 10–20 new major donor prospects per quarter using MAP’s Access–Affinity–Ability framework.

Donor Engagement Systems

Optimized Salesforce for donation tracking, stewardship, and reporting. Built dashboards, briefs, and custom donor profiles.

Case & Collateral

Prepared pitch decks, donor briefs, and meeting strategies for high-stakes funder conversations.

Capacity Building

Provided interim leadership, weekly pipeline meetings, and hands-on coaching to transition DBIP from consultant-driven fundraising to a self-sustaining development team.

We're Your Navigation Team
We're strategists, operators, and fundraising experts who've helped visionaries like you raise $100M+ (and counting). Think of us as your embedded fundraising team - we chart the course and navigate the path while you focus on what matters most: leading your mission.
Founder. Builder. Fundraiser.
I spent a decade leading nonprofit fundraising, building systems from scratch and closing multi-million dollar gifts. What I needed more than strategy docs and donor intros was a team to build systems, find donors who cared about my mission, and keep the momentum going.

That's the insight behind MAP: we don't just advise - we embed as your fundraising team and handle everything from research to donor meetings to follow-up.

‍Because fundraising isn't about fancy plans. It's about having the right team and systems that do the work while you lead the mission.

‍– Michelle Akapnitis
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