Compelling communications
Because of the FIRE program, organizations have shifted attitudes and adopted new practices that are delivering tangible results for their financial resilience.
Improved confidence
Financial health tracking
Click on the icons to learn more.
Income Diversification
Innovation and risk-taking
Stronger relationships
Capital reserves
Ability to build, manage and grow capital reserves
82% improved their capital reserves through raising new funds, increasing allocations, planning and policies, and using reserves to generate investments. The organization Akili Dada started building a reserve fund in 2012. Starting from nothing, by year-end 2019, their operating reserves were almost $500K, more than four months of average expenses. They developed a policy to include an allocation for reserves in each grant proposal and they now have a goal of 10% of all annual revenue to go to the reserve fund. In 2018, Akili Dada was able to purchase their own office space with the available funds and their office is now a space for girls to study, meet mentors, train and gather.
Read more here.
Write a great headline
We better understand visual content. Visual content is associated with cognitive and psychological mechanisms. Things come in through the eyes, the first image is what counts. We associate visual content with emotions.
Ability to practice innovative and creative financial models beyond grants
“When the pandemic hit, we started exploring beyond traditional grants. We decided to participate in a crowdfunding contest and with Spring’s coaching, designed a holistic campaign. The entire team at CEMDA pledged to bring in five people who would donate. Thanks to that, our teamwork was a success and we were able to raise our funds!” — Margarita Campuzano, Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental
Find more examples here.
Write a great headline
Visual content is a universal, cross-cutting language, like music. We are capable of understanding images from millions of years ago, even from other cultures.
Write a great headline
We don't like to bore. We don't want to be repetitive. Communicating as always is boring and doesn't engage. We do it differently. We sabotage boredom. We create what the brain likes to consume because it stimulates.
Write a great headline
Use graphics in your presentation. Interactive visual communication enhances communication outcomes on any topic and in any context you can imagine. Turn numbers into stories.
Ability to build stronger internal & external relationships to maintain financial health
“By engaging funders in deeper conversations about sustainability, we’ve also been able to make the case for more flexible funding. This, in turn, has allowed us to experiment with new revenue streams, like offering advisory services and developing partnerships with a broader range of stakeholders.” — Ford Foundation BUILD grantee “There is more collaboration between all [internal] areas, and an awareness of how the whole organization is doing. Everyone sees what needs to be addressed as a priority.” — Melissa Rando, ProDESC
Ability to diversify funding sources and decrease donor dependence
Over half of participants reported generating new funds so they can continue advancing their mission beyond a particular grant cycle. Through income diversification, the organization Kota Kita lowered their dependency on the Ford Foundation from 72% in 2018 to 38% in 2020. They last reported that less than 40% of their income came from bilateral or multilateral funds. Since then, they have been approaching new funders, exploring individual donors, and considering the option of creating a social enterprise.
Read more here.
Write a great headline
Pose a dramatic question; it's the essential ingredient to hold the audience's attention. It's usually posed subtly at the beginning of the story to intrigue the audience and is resolved at the end.
Ability to track financial health indicators regularly and apply tools, plans and policies
All FIRE participants are introduced to a financial dashboard with key health indicators. Since participating in FIRE, 59 participants shared that they updated 149 policies and practices, and created 41 new ones.
Write a great headline
Our brain is wired to consume visual content. Some data: 90% of the information we process comes through sight, and we process visual content up to 60,000 times faster than text. That's why visual communication is more effective.
More confidence and optimism about navigating their finances
100% of organizations reported increased optimism about their prospects for financial resilience over the next two to three years. "One of the greatest gifts from the FIRE training has been the confidence and clarity it gave us in managing our finances. We’re no longer just setting money aside for a ‘rainy day.’ Instead, we’re investing strategically in areas like capacity-building for our team and more dynamic communications." — Ford Foundation BUILD grantee
Ability to communicate their mission in ways that attract support
Almost half of participants reported that they’re communicating better with donors: sharing successes and challenges, progress and delays, as well as their needs for core support and multi-year grants. "We have [had] more room to talk openly about our long-term vision and how funders can help us get there, rather than just focusing on short-term project deadlines. The result is a more transparent, collaborative relationship." — Ford Foundation BUILD grantee
FIRE attitudes, practices & outcomes
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Created on September 1, 2025
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Transcript
Compelling communications
Because of the FIRE program, organizations have shifted attitudes and adopted new practices that are delivering tangible results for their financial resilience.
Improved confidence
Financial health tracking
Click on the icons to learn more.
Income Diversification
Innovation and risk-taking
Stronger relationships
Capital reserves
Ability to build, manage and grow capital reserves
82% improved their capital reserves through raising new funds, increasing allocations, planning and policies, and using reserves to generate investments. The organization Akili Dada started building a reserve fund in 2012. Starting from nothing, by year-end 2019, their operating reserves were almost $500K, more than four months of average expenses. They developed a policy to include an allocation for reserves in each grant proposal and they now have a goal of 10% of all annual revenue to go to the reserve fund. In 2018, Akili Dada was able to purchase their own office space with the available funds and their office is now a space for girls to study, meet mentors, train and gather.
Read more here.
Write a great headline
We better understand visual content. Visual content is associated with cognitive and psychological mechanisms. Things come in through the eyes, the first image is what counts. We associate visual content with emotions.
Ability to practice innovative and creative financial models beyond grants
“When the pandemic hit, we started exploring beyond traditional grants. We decided to participate in a crowdfunding contest and with Spring’s coaching, designed a holistic campaign. The entire team at CEMDA pledged to bring in five people who would donate. Thanks to that, our teamwork was a success and we were able to raise our funds!” — Margarita Campuzano, Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental
Find more examples here.
Write a great headline
Visual content is a universal, cross-cutting language, like music. We are capable of understanding images from millions of years ago, even from other cultures.
Write a great headline
We don't like to bore. We don't want to be repetitive. Communicating as always is boring and doesn't engage. We do it differently. We sabotage boredom. We create what the brain likes to consume because it stimulates.
Write a great headline
Use graphics in your presentation. Interactive visual communication enhances communication outcomes on any topic and in any context you can imagine. Turn numbers into stories.
Ability to build stronger internal & external relationships to maintain financial health
“By engaging funders in deeper conversations about sustainability, we’ve also been able to make the case for more flexible funding. This, in turn, has allowed us to experiment with new revenue streams, like offering advisory services and developing partnerships with a broader range of stakeholders.” — Ford Foundation BUILD grantee “There is more collaboration between all [internal] areas, and an awareness of how the whole organization is doing. Everyone sees what needs to be addressed as a priority.” — Melissa Rando, ProDESC
Ability to diversify funding sources and decrease donor dependence
Over half of participants reported generating new funds so they can continue advancing their mission beyond a particular grant cycle. Through income diversification, the organization Kota Kita lowered their dependency on the Ford Foundation from 72% in 2018 to 38% in 2020. They last reported that less than 40% of their income came from bilateral or multilateral funds. Since then, they have been approaching new funders, exploring individual donors, and considering the option of creating a social enterprise.
Read more here.
Write a great headline
Pose a dramatic question; it's the essential ingredient to hold the audience's attention. It's usually posed subtly at the beginning of the story to intrigue the audience and is resolved at the end.
Ability to track financial health indicators regularly and apply tools, plans and policies
All FIRE participants are introduced to a financial dashboard with key health indicators. Since participating in FIRE, 59 participants shared that they updated 149 policies and practices, and created 41 new ones.
Write a great headline
Our brain is wired to consume visual content. Some data: 90% of the information we process comes through sight, and we process visual content up to 60,000 times faster than text. That's why visual communication is more effective.
More confidence and optimism about navigating their finances
100% of organizations reported increased optimism about their prospects for financial resilience over the next two to three years. "One of the greatest gifts from the FIRE training has been the confidence and clarity it gave us in managing our finances. We’re no longer just setting money aside for a ‘rainy day.’ Instead, we’re investing strategically in areas like capacity-building for our team and more dynamic communications." — Ford Foundation BUILD grantee
Ability to communicate their mission in ways that attract support
Almost half of participants reported that they’re communicating better with donors: sharing successes and challenges, progress and delays, as well as their needs for core support and multi-year grants. "We have [had] more room to talk openly about our long-term vision and how funders can help us get there, rather than just focusing on short-term project deadlines. The result is a more transparent, collaborative relationship." — Ford Foundation BUILD grantee