Making more magic for New Zealand Riding For The Disabled
Case Study:
New Zealand Riding for the Disabled Association [NZRDA] is an established, nationwide charity dedicated to providing interaction with horses to improve health and wellbeing for people with disabilities, or who have specific challenges or needs.
Riders benefit from numerous physical and emotional benefits and in turn for their families, and the wider community.
“My child who hasn’t ever spoken before, said ‘’walk on’’ after he went riding!”
“Improved fine motor skills from tasks at riding means that Sam can tie his shoelaces!”
Parents
Many of the RDA groups around NZ are in beautiful, calming, much-loved environments.
Project Summary
NZRDA has received minimal funding via government departments, relying on donations, grants and bequests to fund its work. There is a large and urgent waiting list of riders and as such the organisation wanted to grow its fundraising revenue to meet the increased demand for its services. They came to AskRIGHT with an incredibly clear need and mandated us to do a deep dive discovery phase of work to:
- Identify and develop new fundraising opportunities to diversify and grow revenue including new Trusts and Foundations and businesses.
- Develop tactical fundraising plans for each revenue stream with clear goals.
- Review the organisation’s fundraising practices and associated activities, including donor thanks, recognition, and reporting.
Our team of consultants took an immersive approach to the project; visiting, and engaging with the riders, their coaches to kick off the project and see firsthand the important work that needed funding.
Consultant Louise Walters said, “I knew something magical was happening, as soon as I saw the pure joy on the faces of the horse riders and felt their sense of achievement as they rode proudly around the arena, listening intently to the encouragement from the riding coaches. As I waved goodbye to the children in the school minibus and saw the next one arrive shortly after, it became crystal clear to me why the long waiting lists for these transformative riding sessions are so high. I didn’t realise, until then, the outstanding ways riding can truly help people, with disabilities and other challenges, change their lives.”
The next step was to listen and understand the stakeholder and supporter point of view, and our team spent a number of weeks speaking with internal and external stakeholders to understand their viewpoints and reasons for giving to support the NZRDA. As the organisation was balancing a national approach with regional delivery teams, we needed to understand the best way to work within this model to bring everybody onto the same page.
Project Outcomes
AskRIGHT’s review of New Zealand Riding for the Disabled’s programme and recommendations to enhance it culminated in a strategic fundraising report including:
- A comprehensive fundraising review and identified future fundraising opportunities.
- A detailed plan of delivery for each fundraising stream.
- A review of resources and recommendation for an additional staff member to deliver donor stewardship and relationship building with donors.
Impact & Results
AskRIGHT were delighted that the report ticked all the boxes for the NZRDA team. As part of our collaborative follow up NZRDA asked one of our consultants to continue to work with the team to support the following key implementation activities:
- In liaison with the team we reviewed and crafted project descriptions for each item for funding, in the style of a menu, and combined into an overall Case for Support.
- Our consultant provided communications advice and content creation for marketing platforms including the website.
- Ongoing bespoke fundraising coaching was offered to key team members.
- An inspiring keynote speaker attended the annual NZRDA conference to talk about maximising fundraising opportunities.
Consultant Louise Walters shared her thoughts on the project: “I wholeheartedly accepted the challenge laid down by NZ Riding for the Disabled to conduct a thorough assessment of their fundraising programmes. By inviting and listening to their supporters, I understood their motivations to donate, which proved vital in helping to shape practical and proven ways to raise more funds from trusts, businesses, individuals, and bequests.
It’s been such a privilege to work with the staff and Board at NZRDA, with the added bonus of being asked to help implement the fundraising plans that my colleague Fi and I recommended”.
Testimonial
“'I really appreciate AskRIGHT for their professional, insightful review of our donor programmes. It is great to work with Louise and her colleague Fi. They have proven their fundraising, research and analysis capability in spades, and they have added substantial value to the NZRDA”
Donna Kennedy, Chief Executive
NZ Riding for the Disabled
