Missing You
How do you support an organization that radiates warmth but lacks the resources to expand its impact? That was the question we faced when Missing You reached out to us—an initiative that supports children, teens, and young adults coping with grief. From fundraising to policy advocacy: working together with them, we looked beyond their initial request and laid a solid foundation for the future.
The customer
You don’t have to grieve alone. Missing You offers a welcoming space for children, teens, and young adults who have lost a loved one. From grief support groups and grief camps to a close-knit community, thanks to Missing You, no one has to walk through that dark valley alone. They also help make grief a topic of discussion in schools, through educational materials and customized training programs.
The question
Missing You: an organization with a heart of gold, but with insufficient financial resources to scale its impact. It lacked structural funding and organized fundraising efforts. Despite a dedicated team of volunteers, ample media coverage, activities in various provinces, and even a book of their own, they were operating at the very limits of what was possible. Minimal resources, maximum impact. Amazing—but unsustainable in the long term.
The impact
So the first thing we looked at was fundraising. Missing You had virtually no idea how people could make donations. Together with them, we defined the target audience more clearly. But to really make headway, a substantial investment was needed—at the very least, in terms of time. So we decided to go a step further than asked and also support the organization in the areas of policy advocacy and power-building.
Through our training sessions, Missing You learned how to identify which policymakers to approach and how to build trust in order to lobby effectively. We taught them how to pitch their case persuasively and how to apply for grants, even though they didn’t fit into traditional categories. Armed with that knowledge, the organization was able to professionalize its operations, resulting in more weekend events and meetups. The biggest step forward? A more stable operation, free from constant uncertainty about their funding.
The challenge
During our work with Missing You, we quickly came to an important realization: their initial request wasn’t the core of the problem. Before you can truly grow, you first need a solid financial foundation. That’s why we decided to broaden the scope of the question. What other funding options were available? From government grants to sponsors, we took a close look at the entire funding strategy. Because fundraising takes time, and to really move forward, the whole picture had to add up.
The collaboration
Working with Missing You was the best. From day one, their board was closely involved and placed their full trust in us. They sat with us at the table, worked alongside us, and gave us the support we needed to go beyond what was initially requested. The team of volunteers showed the same level of commitment. There was a strong atmosphere of openness and trust—the ideal foundation for building something bigger together.
Does this case appeal to you?
We'd be happy to listen to the specific needs of your organization. We'll come as a pair to listen to your request and make an initial proposal. Based on the feedback and further co-creation, we'll provide a final proposal.
