Special Needs and Parent Support CIO (SNAPS)
Helping SNAPS build a new strategy for engaging more corporate supporters.
About the charity
Based in Leeds, SNAPS helps deliver better outcomes for children with additional needs by helping them make progress towards their personal goals. It does this by providing a safe and secure environment where the entire family can be supported.
SNAPS delivers services using a range of therapies including hydrotherapy and swimming. It also provides fun activities such as music therapy, dance classes, sing and sign classes, sensory activities, football sessions and free play in a safe environment.
The challenge
SNAPS approached Pilotlight for support as it was looking to increase its income and so it could support more children with additional needs and their families.
In consultation with our Charity Experience team, the charity decided to participate in Pilotlight Impact Day, an intense, rewarding programme designed to help charities address operational challenges in an innovative and practical way, in just one day.
The goal
Together with Pilotlight, the charity crystalised the challenge it would work on via the programme: How can SNAPS successfully engage a broad range of new corporate supporters?The programme would also look at: What other organisations have inherent synergies with SNAPS? What successful messaging might look like? And what different types of events can SNAPS run to engage current and prospective partners?
The collaboration
The day was held in person in Leeds and SNAPS was joined by two other Yorkshire-based charities seeking the strategic support of 18 business experts (‘Pilotlighters’) representing one of our Partner Businesses.
To build momentum ahead of Pilotlight Impact Day, a virtual briefing session was held the week before, giving the Pilotlighters an opportunity to meet the charity, familiarise themselves with the challenge, and gain insight into the charity sector.
The day itself kicked off with the Pilotlighters and charities coming together, introducing themselves and familiarising themselves with the strategies and tools they would be using throughout the day.
The Pilotlighters and charities then split into groups and got to work immersing themselves into the challenge, asking questions and sharing context.
This was followed by a period of ideation and research, allowing the teams to identify key strategies to move forward with their challenge.
In the afternoon, the groups reassembled for a progress check-in, sharing their findings from the morning’s session. This made space for the entire group to understand the direction the challenges were taking and identify areas for cross-pollination amongst the different charity groups.
The final part of the day involved the groups compiling a 15-minute final presentation to showcase their findings and recommendations based on the challenge set by the respective charities, including SNAPS.
Throughout the day, frequent interaction and real-time feedback from SNAPS’s representatives fostered an atmosphere of energy, innovation, and collaboration. This was all facilitated by Pilotlight’s experienced Project Managers who coached and supported the teams and charities to keep them on track.
The outcome
At the end of the day, each team presented concise recommendations for SNAPS to implement. These actionable suggestions, backed by thorough research, provided the charity with immediate steps to engage corporate supporters effectively.
The experience also left the Pilotlighters with a newfound understanding of the impact they can make through sharing their skills.
As one Pilotlighter shared:
"This experience allowed me to understand the impact and value I can give to a charity. I was worried I wouldn't be able to provide much value, but now I feel completely differently."
For SNAPS, the impact of the programme extended well beyond the day itself. In the weeks following, the recommendations and support from the Pilotlighters provided the charity with a significant boost, giving SNAPS the confidence to create a comprehensive business plan and accelerate the recruitment of a new Corporate Fundraising Manager.
This newfound clarity and direction also enabled the new manager to hit the ground running, armed with a clear roadmap for success.
“From both a personal and team perspective, to be able to go back and have full confidence in our plans to grow corporate support, following feedback from the Pilotlighters, allowed for a stronger pitch to recruit the additional team member required.
"To now have that recruitment approved and a new team member in place and actively working on our plans, is massive.”- Lisa Morton Head of Fundraising at SNAPS
Fundraising impact
By leveraging the expertise and dedication of Pilotlighters from our Partner Business, in just a single day SNAPS gained valuable insights, strategic recommendations, and the confidence to accelerate its growth.
We’re thrilled that SNAPS has also gone on to win a Weston Charity Award ,which means the charity has received an unrestricted grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation and took part in our year long, high impact Pilotlight 360 programme 2023-2024.
