A Quick Note on how LEAP is evolving
I know we just sent our monthly newsletter last week, but I wanted to pop into your inbox with a little behind-the-scenes update. Don’t worry. This isn’t some dramatic announcement…just an honest look at how LEAP has grown and how our thinking has evolved along the way.
When LEAP first started, I was still figuring things out. (I say I because that’s what it was. Rikki…just throwing ideas on a page to see what stuck.) I knew I wanted to support small nonprofits. I knew what I was good at. But if I’m being honest, I wasn’t even sure yet whether fundraising consulting would be the focus or what that would look like in practice. Our original mission and vision reflected that season: broad, flexible, and a little bit “let’s see where this goes.”
And that made sense at the time.
Fast forward almost two years, and a lot has changed. LEAP is no longer a one-person shop. We’re now a team with shared values, a clearer sense of purpose, and deeper experience walking alongside nonprofits through capital campaigns, major gifts, and relationship-based fundraising. As we grew, it became clear that the language we were using no longer fully captured who we are or the work we actually do.
So last month, we took some time to pause and reflect.
The most visible result of that work is an update to our Mission, Vision, and Values, along with a clearer articulation of our approach to fundraising.
Our Mission now explicitly names what we do:
We guide small nonprofits through capital campaigns and personalized fundraising strategy and help our clients build confidence, clarity, and systems that strengthen donor relationships and sustain long-term success.
Our new Vision better reflects why we do this work:
We believe nonprofits thrive when intentional action aligns with bold vision to create lasting community change.
We also clarified our Values to guide our decisions and describe how we show up for one another and for our clients each and every day – authentically, with enthusiasm, centering connection, approaching everything with a learning mindset, and prioritizing balance.
Finally, we recommitted to what we’re now calling the “LEAP Approach” to fundraising. That is, the four conditions we believe are essential for successful, ethical fundraising:
Leadership that is confident and prepared
Engagement that centers authentic donor relationships
Accountability through clear plans, systems, and follow-through
Philanthropy as a shared community responsibility, not a transaction
These have always been part of our work, not just part of our name. What felt new (and honestly exciting) was taking time as a team to review them, talk them through, and agree: yes, this is the approach that works – and it’s the one we want to keep leading with.
If you’ve worked with us before, much of this will feel familiar. That’s intentional. We’re not changing anything about the work that we do, and our clients aren’t going to see any dramatic changes to our services.
But we believe reflection and growth matter. Every organization – including both small businesses and nonprofits – needs space to pause, learn, and evolve as it grows. And because we see you as a trusted part of our work, it felt important to let you in on that process. Our hope is that this clearer language helps you better understand how we partner with nonprofits and what makes our work different.
Thanks for being here, for following along, and for caring about thoughtful, relationship-centered fundraising. We’re excited about where we’re headed – and even more excited about the future we’re helping our clients create in their communities.