From Stalled to Fundable
The alignment that helped one nonprofit reopen doors with funders
The mission hadn’t lost its relevance—but the team lacked a shared story and an actionable plan.
About the Client
A nonprofit aiming to bridge underrepresented communities with institutional opportunities was struggling to gain traction despite a clear mission and committed board.
Their big question
“How can we align our board around a clear, fundable strategy—so conversations turn into commitments?”
The Backdrop
As a nonprofit dedicated to developing tomorrow’s workforce, it had a strong mission: to partner with large institutions while leveraging the talents of smaller communities.
Their board was committed and forward-thinking, and they had a clear desire to make a national impact. But after months of internal discussion, the team hadn’t landed on a unified strategy—and the clock was ticking.
The Starting Point
The organization had no shortage of ambition. The board talked regularly about partnerships, scale, and systemic change. There were early ideas for programs that would connect underrepresented talent with real economic opportunity, powered through collaborations with larger entities. But none of those ideas had translated into action.
Internally, the leadership team was stuck. Each board member had a different take on what the organization’s value should be, and priorities pulled in competing directions. Conversations were happening, but no decisions were landing. Projects weren’t moving forward. Funders weren’t engaging. The organization was spending down its limited reserves with little to show for it.
The mission hadn’t lost its relevance—but the team lacked a shared story and an actionable plan.
What Was Getting in the Way
Three challenges were holding the organization back.
First, the board was misaligned. Every member carried a different version of what success could look like, and those differences created tension and indecision. Second, energy and time were being consumed by discussions without execution. Despite good intentions, there were no pilot projects, no contracts, and no commitments. Finally, funders were hesitant—because the organization hadn’t yet presented a clear, unified value proposition that showed what it could deliver today.
CATALYST FOR CHANGE
Without alignment, there was no traction.
Without traction, there would be no funding.
The Engagement
At a critical moment—when resources were thinning and urgency was rising—the organization brought in Go to Market Impact as a strategy partner to help the board get aligned and move forward.
The facilitation process was centered on the DE-RISK SYSTEM FOR IMPACT®, designed to help leadership teams surface individual perspectives, clarify shared goals, and map out the difference between long-term aspirations and short-term, tangible value.
Through structured exercises and collaborative dialogue, the group worked through the noise. They explored what was possible now versus what needed to wait. They made deliberate choices about which opportunities were both viable and fundable in the near term.
Over time, a single, clear value proposition emerged—one that the whole board could stand behind, and that would resonate with potential partners.
Turning Point (“Aha Moment”)
During the process, a realization surfaced: while everyone believed in the mission, they had been sharing different narratives—with each other, and with funders. That lack of clarity had been slowing everything down.
Once the team aligned around a shared message and near-term focus, decision-making accelerated. The shift was immediate: from ideation to action, from divergence to cohesion.
The Results
Within 90 days, the organization had shifted from stalled to steadily moving.
The board, once divided across competing priorities, had come together around a single, shared direction. What had been months of fragmented discussions was distilled into a focused, one-page strategic plan. It clarified what mattered most, right now.
That clarity made a difference. Conversations with funders, which had previously drifted or stalled, became more grounded. With a clearer value proposition, the organization could speak with confidence about what it was ready to deliver. That opened doors—and reopened others.
Pilot projects moved forward, both aligned with the newly agreed strategy and designed to demonstrate real, near-term value. Internally, the tone shifted. Meetings became more focused. Energy that had been caught in loops of ideation was redirected into tangible progress.
More than just launching projects, the team rediscovered its rhythm—and the confidence that comes with knowing everyone is rowing in the same direction. The board moved from fragmented ideas to a unified direction—and they finally had a message they could stand behind.
“Now that we’re aligned, people are actually listening.”
THE IMPACT
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Within 90 days, the board aligned on a focused strategy and fundable value proposition.
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Stalled funder conversations turned into renewed commitments and open doors.
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The team shifted from endless discussion to decisive action with clear next steps.
Why It Worked
When vision meets focus, progress follows. With a clear strategy and unified message, even the most stalled efforts can regain traction, re-engage funders, and move from ideas to impact.
Let’s work together to make your next steps unmistakably clear—and fundable.
