Pratapas Associates, LLC


CASE STUDIES
The following case studies and testimonials illustrate the range of practical solutions Pratapas Associates, LLC offers to not-for-profit organizations:
Little Company of Mary Hospital Foundation
Little Company of Mary Hospital Foundation has had a very strong impact and rich history in the south Chicago/Beverly communities for over 80 years. The foundation raises incremental capital and operating funds to support many hospitals programs and services to patients and family members in the area. However, the organization recently faced some key challenges with a major capital campaign initiative and changing board dynamics. Pratapas Associates, LLC facilitated an organization assessment leading to the development of a comprehensive new Board & Volunteer Leadership Development Program for the foundation. We also provided interim leadership that helped strengthen the Foundation Board with the strategic recruitment of eight new committed members to the redefined board. We then wrapped up our engagement with the facilitation of an executive search process leading to the hire of the hospital’s new Executive Director for the Foundation who continues to successfully lead and grow the strategic fundraising, external relations and board/volunteer development programs today.
Educare of West DuPage
During the height of the 2008 recession, Educare of West DuPage embarked on an ambitious $10M capital campaign to build the first suburban Educare Center in the country. The new early childhood education and development center, targeted for the community of West Chicago, IL, would serve 150 children from the county’s lowest income families. The Educare campaign was anchored by the vision and leadership of Al Gustafson and the Gustafson Family Foundation. However, this venture capital initiative lacked an existing donor or volunteer leadership base to draw upon for support. Pratapas Associates, LLC facilitated a Marketing and Readiness Study and developed campaign strategies to build off an initial funding base of $3.4M and help raise the balance of funds needed to build the new center. We engaged a core group of community leaders and funders, developed campaign materials, heightened community awareness, staffed the campaign, helped cultivate major lead gifts and established a new major fundraising event for the organization. The new center’s ground breaking was in April 2011 when total funds pledged reached $8.5M.
DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church
The DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church congregation had doubled in recent years and the existing church, education classrooms and common areas could no longer accommodate the growing membership or anticipated growth in the church. Church leaders decided to embark on a major capital campaign initiative to build a new sanctuary, additional religious education classrooms, and upgrade the kitchen, meeting rooms and other common areas to better serve its congregation. Pratapas Associates, LLC facilitated a Campaign Feasibility Study, helped recruit campaign leadership, developed a powerful case statement and campaign materials, provided gift cultivation training to campaign volunteers and helped guide the campaign steering committee through each phase of campaign execution. The campaign would be the first personalized multi-year gift cultivation effort of the church’s congregation members. The campaign surpassed its original goal of $1.6M on its way to raising more than $1.7M in pledges.
Additional Testimonials