Opportunity Analysis
Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park
Economic Strategy
Friends of Mammoth Cave is a nonprofit alliance supporting the activities and continued preservation of Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. The organization leads fundraising efforts, assists in capital projects, works to increase visitation, and provides natural and cultural resources for visitors to use during their trips.
Friends of Mammoth Cave is a small organization with two part-time employees and, to date, limited programmatic impact. With support from the National Park Foundation, Friends is exploring how to sustainably expand their work through new funding streams, partnerships, programs, and more. Numerous challenges hinder achieving this goal in the long term, including funding constraints, competing organizations, a rural location, and limited size and visibility. Fourth Economy led a six-month planning process to build consensus and momentum among organizational staff, board members, and external partners and funders.
Our Approach
Through robust data analysis, review of organizational documents, and interviews with internal stakeholders, we gained a working knowledge of the organization and its position in the region. Interviews with model “friends” organizations across the country and a review of potential partners and funders throughout Kentucky enabled the planning team to develop a list of potential opportunities and fundraising strategies for the organization.
The Results
Fourth Economy produced multiple deliverables that not only serve as a guide for Friends’ future fundraising, growth, and impact but also provide physical fundraising materials for Friends to use in these efforts. The assessment and implementation matrix offers an immediate 1-5 year plan for the organization to adopt new fundraising strategies, build new programs and events, and firmly establish Friends’ impact in supporting the National Park. The fundraising materials are usable for Friends’ upcoming capital campaigns, pitch meetings, and events. Brand guidelines for the organization will help formalize its operations and marketing, positioning Friends to build a strong identity as the organization grows.
Location
Mammoth Cave, KY