Adaptive Strategies to Build Stability and Sustainability

Summary

Nonprofit leaders face shifting funding landscapes and evolving donor expectations, making it essential to make values-driven decisions with confidence. This workshop guides leadership teams in aligning strategy, storytelling, and fundraising practice to adapt, build resilience, and strengthen donor trust.

Participants will explore how to make purpose-driven and values-based decisions around programming, staffing, and resource allocation and how to communicate those choices with clarity and courage. The session will also offer adaptive fundraising strategies that respond to evolving donor behavior and systemic realities, helping organizations build resilience and donor trust. Join us to learn tools and resources to bridge strategy, narrative, and fundraising practice to support mission-driven growth through change.

Learning Objectives:

• Clarify what your organization is trying to sustain, shift, or scale—and why—using purpose-driven and values-aligned decision-making resources and processes.
• Translate strategic decisions into donor-facing messaging that is transparent, consistent, and aligned with your organization’s values and strategic priorities.
• Learn adaptive strategic planning and fundraising approaches that reflect current donor behavior, economic shifts, and organizational capacity.
• Strengthen collaboration between leadership, fund development, and communications staff to ensure coherence between internal decisions and external communications.

Audience:

• Leadership/Development/Fundraising staff seeking to align donor communications with organizational realities.
• Board members responsible for financial sustainability and long-term resource planning.
• Organizations facing funding instability or shifting donor priorities who need to adapt strategy and messaging.

This learning experience is made possible through a collaborative funding partnership with the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, the Oleson Foundation, the Huckle Family Foundation, and Rotary Charities of Traverse City.

Workshop Details:

• Date and time: December 11, 2025 | 1 - 4 pm
• Location: Kirkbride Hall at the Grand Traverse Commons
• Light refreshments will be provided
• Please refrain from wearing strong perfumes or fragrances.

Event Photography: Photos may be taken by staff or a representative of Rotary Charities. These photos may be used in digital or print or shared across our communications channels. If you prefer not to have your photo used for these purposes, please let us know when you RSVP.

Accommodations: Rotary Charities is committed to creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome. If you plan to attend this gathering and need to request a reasonable accommodation, please let us know when you RSVP.

About the faciltators:

Megan Motil has spent her career dedicated to community growth and development, land and water conservation and restoration, food and farming systems, housing, transportation, and access to nature and outdoor recreation. Pairing her professional experience in community and organizational development with a personal zeal for building trust, openness, and clarity in governance and decision-making, Megan founded Parallel Solutions in 2014.

Christe Perdue has more than 20 years of development and nonprofit experience and has worked with a variety of nonprofits to strengthen their fundraising, marketing, and strategic planning initiatives. Since starting as an independent consultant in 2017, Christie and team at The Solvent Group have worked with hundreds of regional nonprofit organizations to build and strengthen their development activities.