Fundraising is key to the success of all nonprofits. But for those organizations that need a little help, we sat down with Brad Layland. Brad and The FOCUS Group work to carry out each organization’s vision through assistance in reaching their fundraising goals. So read ahead as Brad talks about making connections, creating a community impact, and cherishing the success stories that stay with you.
St. Augustine Social: Tell us a little bit about your organization. What does The FOCUS Group do?
Brad Layland: Since 1982, The FOCUS Group has been building the kingdom of God by serving nonprofits in raising capital and cultivating major donors. Our mission is to get to know the client, their vision, and their donors and to partner with them as they reach their fundraising goals. Our firm equips clients to build and maintain lifetime relationships with their major donors. Our experience shows that a few donors make up a large percentage of an organization’s funding, so we show clients how to cultivate authentic relationships with their top prospects. Rather than creating work for clients, we help them eliminate ineffective fundraising strategies.
What motivated you to start this group?
I actually did not start The FOCUS Group. The firm was started in 1982 and I purchased the firm from the founder. Since purchasing the firm I have been able to grow the firm to the place where we are serving about ten times the number of clients. I have been able to do this through recruiting amazing talented consultants to join our team and creating an online training program that has allowed us to scale up our work.
How long have you been with The FOCUS Group and what is your role?
After several years as a senior consultant, I moved into the role of owner and Chief Executive officer in 2012.
What do you see as The FOCUS Group’s impact on the community?
We believe that building relationships with donors over time is at the very core of the fundraising process. Because building relationships is of utmost importance with The FOCUS Group, our employees are involved in their own communities in various ways. The FOCUS Group has a broad impact on not only St. Augustine, but all the communities that are served.
Your organization has a long list of success stories. Is there a particular success story that means a lot to you?
I am especially thankful for the work that we got to be a part of with The Bowery Mission in NYC. We have helped them for the last 20 years, but recently we helped them raise 12 million dollars to buy a new building to serve the homeless in a new borough in NYC. When I go to the facility and see the lives being transformed through their work, I am so thankful for the opportunity to have a role in making that happen.
How can our readers help support your work and get involved?
If your readers know of a great organization that is struggling with Fundraising we would love to help them! So your readers can connect them to us. I am so confident in our proven stratus for fundraising that if we train someone and they do the work and they don’t raise more money than they pay us, I will personally donate the money back to them.
Learn more about Brad and The FOCUS Group by visiting www.tfgrp.com. Photography by David Steele.