OXFAM INTERNATIONAL FUNDRAISING PROPOSITION
THE
FIGHT
FOR
FAIR.
Fundraising has the power to inspire, engage, and mobilise people – but it can also support negative stereotypes and assumptions, damaging the aims and objectives of people and organisations pushing for change. This isn’t a new conversation. But the growing disconnect between traditional fundraising narratives and the values and beliefs of supporters, communities, service users and staff alike is driving growing support for change.
It’s in this context, and as part of a competitive global pitching process that Oxfam International appointed Optimist Works as their strategic creative partner to develop a first-of-its kind global fundraising proposition and toolkit. They chose OW because of three characteristics:
1. an openness to question convention balanced with decades of practical creative fundraising expertise;
2. a unique creative leadership background inside and agency-side for some of the world’s largest non-profits;
3. our experience of running and designing Participative Creative processes that bring together stakeholder communities to help solve strategic creative problems.
The OW team designed a collaborative process using a combination of interviews, desk research and, crucially, a carefully designed collaboration platform. This bespoke digital tool was translated into multiple languages and emailed out to almost 300 contributors in seven countries: the questions and stimulus designed to draw out motivations, beliefs and values shared by supporters, staff and partners alike.
The project delivered a bold new global fundraising platform and supporting narrative playbook, built around shared aims, beliefs and values found during the process.
This practical toolkit, narrative and set of off-the-shelf resources, is helping to support Oxfam fundraising teams worldwide as they make a shift away from traditional solely supporter-centric stories and strategies, towards more equal citizens approach: centring ideas of agency, unity and justice in their fundraising and framing asks around the shared objectives of people who want to play their part in a fairer, more equal world.
To find out more about the project do contact us at hello@optimist.works