Allison Li is an Ivey HBA 2025 Candidate completing the concurrent degree program with a BHSc in Rehabilitation Sciences. She spent her summer working at Autism Speaks Canada, a Canadian nonprofit organization, as part of the Ivey Connects internship program.
Imagine walking into your first day as an intern and realizing you’re about to help shape a nonprofit organization’s future donor engagement strategy. That was me at Autism Speaks Canada – nervous but excited – ready to make a difference beyond just learning the ropes in a nonprofit. Little did I know this summer internship would transform the way I think about fundraising, marketing, and making a meaningful impact across the country.
The Challenge
Autism Speaks Canada wanted to strengthen its donor base and create a more sustainable and creative way to connect with corporate partners and foundations. This meant building a new donor prospect and retention pipeline from scratch – one that would attract and educate new supporters while keeping existing donors engaged long-term. The task was clear, but the road ahead felt daunting.
Choice
To tackle this challenge, I decided to leverage our data. Using my knowledge and training from Blackbaud’s training program and Raiser’s Edge NXT, I dove into data analytics to segment and qualify donors based on previous interactions and the RFM model. This allowed us to identify potential partnerships with corporations, corporate foundations, and family foundations while developing personalized engagement strategies.
I also worked closely with the team to build a three-year corporate strategy that focused on long-term meaningful relationships with Autism Speaks Canada’s key partners.
Outcome
The new pipelines and strategies did not just boost donations – they streamlined donor engagement and created a robust roadmap for future growth. Partnerships for events like the Autism Speaks Canada Walk were secured, and we enhanced corporate cause marketing initiatives that resonated with donors on a deeper level.
The most rewarding part? Knowing that my work contributed to the organization’s ongoing mission to help the autism community of over 100,000 people reach their full potential and thrive.
Key Takeaways
Here’s what I learned along the way:
- Data is your friend! – Using insights from Raiser’s Edge NXT and other platforms were key to building effective donor segments and engagement strategies.
- Partnerships matter! – Fostering meaningful relationships with corporate sponsors adds long-term value.
- Impact is more than numbers! – Successful fundraising is about connecting donors to the heart of your mission.
This journey taught me the importance of relationship-building in fundraising – a skill I’m excited to carry forward in my career. It is my hope that this generation of business leaders see the importance of placing human connection at the forefront of fundraising strategies.
Learn more about Autism Speaks Canada and how you can get involved!
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