Listening between the lines
Some of the most important things you’ll hear in a campaign aren’t in the words themselves. Our Discovery Interviews are designed to surface insights, uncover perspectives, and build trust with the people who know your organization best.
Honest insights shape strategy
No two campaigns are the same, and no one knows your context better than those already invested in your mission. That’s why we start by inviting them to speak. Not just leadership but the full constellation of stakeholders who can shape the path forward.
We aim to gather a wide range of individual perspectives to help us understand the full picture—the inspiring parts, the challenging parts, and everything in between. These interviews allow us to get up to speed quickly while uncovering what matters most. They help us learn how your organization shows up today and how it can stretch to confidently meet the future.
Voices from every corner
We’ll collaborate with your team to identify and schedule a series of roughly 45-minute conversations across one or two weeks. The people we speak with vary depending on the campaign, but typically include:
Internal Stakeholders
- Leadership team
- Development staff
- Program or operations staff
- Campaign counsel
Donors and Supporters
- Major donors
- Planned giving donors
- Lapsed donors
- Prospective donors
- Grassroots supporters
External Stakeholders
- Alumni
- Community members
- Partner organizations
- Civic leaders
- Board members
- Volunteers
Influential Others
- Beneficiaries
- Industry experts
- Media representatives
We tailor our questions to your campaign and culture, but most interviews focus on the same key areas. Why support this campaign now? What story needs to be told? What have people experienced in the past that we can learn from? And what kind of future do they want to help create?
We listen intently, take careful notes, and begin to spot patterns and themes. Sometimes the biggest insight comes from a passing comment. Other times, it’s the silence between words that says the most.
Scheduling is usually the most difficult part. Even if we can’t connect with someone during the interview window, their influence can still shape the work. Your team is welcome to share their input separately, and we’ll factor that into the larger picture.
Insights into action
The interviews culminate in the Executive Summary, a foundational document that begins our campaign branding process. Beyond just recapping what we heard, the summary distills our findings into key Strategic Throughlines that guide every major decision.
We include representative quotes (anonymous unless otherwise permitted), soundbites that clarify themes, and insight into what’s working and what might need attention. This is not a typical research report. It’s an alignment tool, a creative springboard, and a way to bring everyone along.
You can share the Executive Summary internally or with board members, campaign counsel, and other partners. Many clients find it useful for unifying their internal teams and beginning early-stage fundraising conversations.
True value
More than anything, the Discovery Interview process is about trust. It signals to your people that their voices matter. It shows that the campaign is grounded in real insight. And it ensures that the story we craft together resonates deeply, because it’s built from within.