How the Christensen Institute formalized their philanthropic program and recruited a new leader to broaden their base of support

The Christensen Institute is a think tank dedicated to improving the world through Disruptive Innovation. Founded on the theories of Harvard professor Clayton Christensen, the Institute offers a unique framework for understanding many of society’s most pressing issues including education, healthcare, and economic prosperity. Our work with the Clayton Christensen Institute (CCI) began in 2019 as the organization was approaching its 10th anniversary. The organization had been funded primarily through two large foundations. Leadership was beginning a new strategic planning process, with a vision and plans for growth, and engaged Development Guild to develop a fundraising strategy and plan to establish a formal fundraising program to include individual major gifts, an annual fund and broader foundation and corporate support.  The plan included the recommendation to hire its first Vice President for Development, and Development Guild was engaged to stay on with CCI, not only to conduct the search for the new VP, but also to begin to implement the plan, develop the infrastructure and practices for a major gift program, provide coaching to leadership, and serve as overall fundraising counsel until the VP was on board.  Today, CCI has broadened its foundation support and partnerships, and made great strides with individual major gifts.