While the stories below do not prove causality, they reveal patterns. They suggest that even modest strategic social-sector funding can generate highly leveraged results. When the right fuel meets the right moment, it creates what Propel Philanthropy and Catalyst Now call A Million Dominoes. When funding is also designed to achieve far-reaching results, as in the examples below, it can yield unexpectedly large outcomes.
The organization launched a $355,000 national media campaign in partnership with funders. The campaign raised tens of millions of dollars, generated 16.8 million impressions, and helped thousands of nonprofit organizations in the U.S.
Read the report →
A $65,000 grant enabled TechSoup to secure $11.5 million in a global capital campaign and launch a five-year development phase to modernize and significantly enhance its capacity to serve its membership including hundreds of thousands of organizations across 234 countries.
Read the story →
Revenue escalated from $37 million to $104 million in two years—an 82% increase that markedly expanded the organization’s capacity to save lives by combating neglected tropical diseases.
Raised $120 million from $3.6 million awarded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, A.T.E. Chandra Foundation, and Omidyar Networks.
A $17,000 grant funded an assistant for a high-powered executive director, providing the essential fuel needed to focus on expansion. In a year, MCN reported a 140% increase in its graduate rate.
A $50,000 grant provided “cornerstone power” to organize a collective funding request among partners. This effort helped Humentum raise $800,000 to develop together financial solutions to strengthen the global NGO community.
A $100,000 grant helped design and launch a new revenue-generating model. This organization is already bringing in over $1.4 million in new funding and continues to generate revenue annually.
$91,000 in grants has enabled this organization to update its CRM and overall development program. These infrastructure upgrades will help WINGS more effectively improve the capacity of its affiliate memberships, with a significant portion in the Global South.
This account demonstrates how sustained philanthropic commitment can help an organization achieve far-reaching impact. Thanks in large part to nearly 24 years of support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, WINGS developed into one of the world’s most influential philanthropy support networks.
A $100,000 grant supported the integration of a comprehensive CRM system across the full team. This allowed Synergos to better organize its vast network of contacts and partnerships, strengthening its ability to prepare for events and facilitate collaboration between influential individuals, governments, and social initiatives.
A $100,000 grant funded two staff positions and helped grow and diversify its board. Following this expansion, the organization secured a grant exceeding $1 million, raised millions of dollars for impact media films, and established a new partnership with Discovery Education.
Read a Testimonial →
A $17,000 grant enabled a temporary grant writer to raise $240,000. These funds helped women in 72 Indian villages to reclaim land, support entrepreneurship, and implement water harvesting and girl-empowerment programs.
A $5,000 grant provided foundational AI knowledge to gradually offer digital training to its memberships, involving more than 4,000 civil society organizations and infrastructure groups within its network.
A $75,000 grant (matched by another funder) led to hiring a coordinator to strengthen communication and collaboration among thousands of members and organizations across 156 countries.