Client Type: Low Income Investment Fund
Scope of Work:
Fundraising Infrastructure · Narrative Strategy · Cross-Functional Project Management · Systems Implementation
Context & Challenge
Building a fundraising campaign at scale is never just about the dollars—it’s about vision, infrastructure, timing, and the ability to translate urgency into collective momentum. I was brought in to support the development and coordination of a $12M philanthropic initiative designed to resource entrepreneurs in the care economy, including early child care providers, hospice centers, and real estate developers advancing community-rooted models.
The challenge? Align internal stakeholders across programs, policy, development, and communications to move in sync—while also modernizing the operational backbone to support a campaign of this scale.
My Role
Strategic Project Manager & Systems Lead
- Led project management for the campaign buildout, with a focus on internal coordination and execution readiness
- Co-authored and project-managed the development of a Case for Support, aligning narratives across Development, Communications, Policy, and Program teams
- Translated program outcomes into funder-ready messaging rooted in equity, urgency, and policy relevance
- Introduced and institutionalized Asana for internal workstream management and collaboration
- Supported the reconfiguration of Salesforce CRM to better track funder engagement and proposal progress
- Conducted customized funder research using Instrumentl and proprietary databases
- Integrated federal policy levers (IRA, GGRF, CHIPS) into narrative arcs to activate multi-sector alignment across housing, climate, and workforce development
Tools & Systems Used
| Tool | Function |
|---|---|
| Asana | Project tracking, internal coordination |
| Salesforce | CRM optimization, proposal pipeline management |
| Instrumentl | Prospect research, funder alignment |
| Airtable | (Optional) Reporting dashboards and grant tracking |
| Google Suite | Cross-functional collaboration + narrative iteration |
Outcomes & Impact
| Milestone | Result |
|---|---|
| Case for Support finalized | Unified campaign narrative across departments |
| Salesforce system improvements | Increased visibility into funder relationships + touchpoints |
| Asana adoption | Enabled real-time tracking across campaign components |
| Funder database built across 3 sectors | Over 100 aligned prospects identified with mission relevance |
| Policy integration (IRA, GGRF, CHIPS) | Created hooks to activate funder and government interest |
Why It Matters
This campaign wasn’t just about raising money, it was about building the infrastructure to move capital equitably and efficiently to entrepreneurs often overlooked by traditional financial systems. From digital systems to messaging to federal funding strategy, the project represented a holistic approach to unlocking philanthropic dollars for the people and sectors that make care possible.
Azul Cortez 