Case study · Nonprofit · 2021–2024
How Mishawaka Troop Town raised $600K with a connected fundraising system
A website, a consistent brand, regular supporter email, and the right free tools, kept running for three years.
At a glance
Client: Mishawaka Troop Town, a nonprofit in Mishawaka, Indiana
Timeline: January 2021 to February 2024
Services: branding, website, e-commerce and donations, supporter email, and nonprofit technology
Agencies involved: BrandForge Studio, SiteLift Digital, MarketPath Solutions
- $600K
raised over three years through the system - $100K+
raised in 2021 alone - 3
nonprofit technology programs secured: Slack, Box, and Twilio
The starting point
The relationship began with a website. In early 2021, Ben designed and built Troop Town’s site, secured and connected its domain, and set up a shop, online donations, and sections for photos, video, and a blog.
That first project turned into a three-year engagement: consulting on brand, web, and supporter communications from 2021 to 2022, then serving as the organization’s system administrator from 2022 to early 2024.
The goal
Troop Town needed its website, brand, and supporter communications working together to support fundraising, plus reliable tools behind the scenes for its board of directors.
What we built
- A consistent brand. Branding guidelines so the website, emails, flyers, and event materials all looked like the same organization.
- A website that could take action. Updated content plus e-commerce and donation features, so supporters could give or buy without leaving the site.
- Regular supporter emails. Newsletters planned and delivered on a schedule, keeping families, volunteers, and donors connected between events.
- Solid tools behind the scenes. Google Workspace managed for the board, and applications that secured nonprofit programs from Slack, Box, and Twilio.
How it came together
- 2021: New website, branding guidelines, and built-in e-commerce and donations. More than $100,000 raised that year.
- 2021–2022: Website content kept current and supporter newsletters delivered on a regular schedule.
- 2022–2024: System administration: Google Workspace for the board and nonprofit technology programs from Slack, Box, and Twilio. About $600,000 raised over three years.
What made it work
None of these pieces is unusual on its own. What mattered was that they were connected and kept running. The brand made every touchpoint recognizable. The newsletter kept supporters warm. The website made it easy to act the moment someone was ready. And free and discounted nonprofit tools kept costs low enough that the system could run year after year.
Lessons for other nonprofits
- Make giving possible on your own site, in as few clicks as possible.
- Email supporters on a predictable schedule, not only when you need money.
- Apply for nonprofit software programs. Many major tools offer them.
- Write down your brand rules once, so volunteers and staff stay consistent.
- Give the system time. Most of the result came from doing the basics for three years.
Read more: What a $600K nonprofit fundraising system looked like
Next step
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