Fundraising and Philanthropy Strategy, Program Design & Support

Fundraising is more than asking for support — it’s about building meaningful relationships and telling your story with clarity.

From major donor programs, annual appeals and giving days, to grants, capital campaigns, and bequests programs, we help you move beyond one-off wins toward a connected, strategic approach to funding and income diversification.

Our focus is simple: to help you raise the funds you need, in a way is authentic, achievable, and deeply aligned to your mission.

The Align Fundraising Approach

With a 3-step framework we can bring together all the components needed to maximise your impact.

We recommend beginning with the Align phase, but we're here to meet you wherever you are on your journey to raise more funds to address the societal complexities at the heart of your mission.

Align > Theory of Change and Fundraising Strategy

Measure > Impact measurement and evaluation

Communicate > Marketing and communications

Make lasting impact by optimising your fundraising strategies and designing your roadmap to align your various routes to impact.

  • The first step in any impact journey is documenting the change you wish to see in the world. Your ambition. Your theory of change.

    Through our success in grant seeking, we experience time and time again that a theory of change is any social enterprise or nonprofits most important tool for raising funds and creating sustained impact. We can help with a coaching call or the full suite of working with you to design your theory of change.

    Designing and aligning your fundraising tools will set your organisation up to reach your short and longer-term goals, and help you write compelling cases for support, pitch decks, and grant applications.

Maximise funding through impact measurement using tools and frameworks that support compelling, data-driven storytelling.

  • Today, funders want to see evidence of outcomes and impact.

    Our expertise lies in designing impact measurement frameworks, surveys, and data collection plans to capture numbers and infuse evidence-based storytelling into your grant writing, case for support and donor communications.

    We design your meaurement to align with your strategic planning, and bring together your team, priorities, and rhythms around your ambition and approach.

    And if you need help with developing your strat plan, we can help create this as a living, breathing tool to drive alignment and action.

Nonprofits and impact enterprises need aligned and amplified communications and storytelling to achieve social change.

  • Effective fundraising communications are the keys to attracting funding. 

    Many organisations have a compelling mission and vision, but often, their exterior is lacklustre. Mixed messages, outdated websites, and confusing communication materials lead to missed opportunities.

    We can help with marketing and creative communication to increase engagement and donor conversions, and attract foundation grants and impact investment to drive greater social impact.

    It's about delivering the right message to the right people at the right time to drive the right results.

  • Our Theory of Change

    When nonprofits align their strategy, messaging and communications,
    then their impact becomes visible and trust grows,
    which leads to long-term sustainability and greater impact.

  • “Working with people who are aligned in terms of their dedication to meaningful causes is not only rewarding, but also inspiring. Sarah’s engagement, knowledge and attention to detail really blew me away. Her expressive and articulate communications, allowed me to effectively communicate a complex and layered body of work to a diverse audience. I really appreciate the value that is added by a person of Sarah’s compassion and intellect.”

    — Marite Norris, Artist and Director of Art Space Collective

  • "I just wanted to personally say how much we have appreciated the wonderful help and support we have received from Sarah Waddle and the Align Agency in developing the PAWS program and a funding model for this. Sarah's help has been just invaluable and we are very grateful."

    — Di Johnston, Pets and Positive Ageing

  • “Sarah’s support and guidance in operationalising our vision and navigating our journey to greater impact has been instrumental. She helps us weave our narrative together, enabling us to grow our fundraising and engagement program, secure major grants, and report on our impact."

    — Jo Smith, Artistic Director CircusWA