Strategy, Focus and Philosophy

Philanthropy, at its core, is altruistic: an investment of values, intellectual capital, and financial resources, which brings about the greater good for our world and communities. Unfortunately, due to the enormous complexity of social challenges in today’s world, the constant evolution of the nonprofit landscape, and increasing administrative and regulatory oversight of traditional charitable instruments, the modern experience of philanthropy too often fails to produce meaningful rewards of genuine altruistic engagement for successful families and businesses.

The founding vision of Oakdale Strategies is to deliver comprehensive services to philanthropic individuals, families, and organizations to make high-impact, high-value philanthropy easy. Philanthropists face many decisions on what to do with their foundations, legacy planning, board appointments, and family involvement. Oakdale Strategies relieves donors of these important, but taxing, tasks so they can concentrate on the rewards of giving. We combine content expertise with philanthropic technical knowledge and tools to help multiple generations speak in one voice.

Our Core Values

We believe that the strongest philanthropic relationships—the ones that produce the highest yield for grantees and their beneficiaries—are also most rewarding for donors.

In our experience, these high-value, high-yield relationships are realized under the conditions of trust, transparency, and empathy for shared goals of donor and grantee.

Because forging this foundational trust requires a long-term investment of time and resources both on the part of a donor and funding partner(s), these kinds of relationships are also very rare.

To be a partner of value in advancing high-yield philanthropy, Oakdale Strategies integrates three guiding pillars in every client engagement:

Our Pillars

At Oakdale Strategies, we specialize in fostering robust philanthropic relationships that maximize value and outcomes for nonprofit organizations and those they serve, while enriching donor experiences. Our approach emphasizes building mutual trust and transparency among donors, nonprofit organizations, and those they serve, all united in achieving shared goals.

Our diverse clientele includes individuals, families, companies, philanthropic foundations, nonprofits, and professional advisors. We integrate three core principles into each client engagement:

Relationship-Centric

We work closely with our clients to understand their philanthropic goals and vision, providing tailored philanthropy management services. Leveraging a strong network of nonprofits and expert advisors in accounting, law, and finance, we offer comprehensive support.

Solution-Focused

We begin by identifying administrative challenges and streamlining philanthropic management processes. Through a deep understanding of current and future client needs, and by evaluating past efforts, we enhance operational efficiency for our clients, facilitating more impactful philanthropy.

Trust-Driven

We advocate for a successful philanthropic approach grounded in strategic planning by clients, impactful theories of change by nonprofit partners, and alignment of values and resources between donors and nonprofit partners. As trusted advisors, we advocate for forward-thinking strategies and prudent decision-making, guiding a targeted approach that closely aligns with strategic objectives.

At Oakdale Strategies, we are committed to advancing philanthropy through these principles, ensuring that each partnership achieves lasting, meaningful impact.

Tailored Service Offerings

Nonprofit Legacy + Endowment

Review and analysis of nonprofit organization’s current and projected financial needs.
Assess efficacy of past and current planned giving, legacy giving and endowment fund campaigns.
Assess efficacy of past and current annual giving fundraising efforts.
Collaboration with nonprofit’s leaders to determine goals and scope of legacy gifting and endowment campaigns, including fundraising and monetary goals and volunteer and donor participation.
Collaboration with nonprofit’s leaders to determine personnel, operational, fundraising, and overhead costs of legacy gifting and endowment campaigns.
Design and implementation of:
- Strategies to help ensure long-term financial stability.
- Legacy gift and/or endowment campaigns.
- Record keeping, reporting systems and strategies
- Ongoing program maintenance schedule to ensure project success.
Collaboration with nonprofit’s leaders, staff, and vendors, to develop marketing, publicity, outreach and stewardship strategies.
Training of nonprofit’s paid professional staff and volunteer solicitors in best practices for outreach to prospective donors and funders.
Advise nonprofit organization in identifying and educating prospective donors and professional advisors about the nonprofit’s legacy and/or endowment campaign.
Consultation and advisory services as needed to help nonprofit optimize its results and achieve its legacy gift and/or endowment campaign goals.

Nonprofit Legacy and endowment

Grantmaking services

Provide custom grant application and reporting services, including creation of a process and distribution to the desired nonprofit community
Arrange nonprofit site visits (in-person or virtually) pre and/or post grant
Provide research on nonprofits or issues to assist in grantmaking decisions
Design specific grantmaking processes, programs, and partnerships to best achieve any desired outcome
Make grant distributions per donor’s guidelines through the use of a donor advised fund or private foundation
Produce customized letters for all grant recipients

Strategic + Family

Develop a foundation structure and governing policies, or conduct audit of existing relevant processes
Creation of a philanthropic spending policy and ensure ongoing compliance
Develop an internal and external mission statement, supported by a long-term visioning process
Creation of legacy documentation and succession planning to provide guidance for future generations
Design and implement a giving strategy including sunsetting, perpetual existence, strategic giving, multi-year giving, and calendared giving

Corporate Offerings

Design and implement a corporate giving strategy
Assist in development and execution of employee matching program
Assess efficacy of past and current charitable sponsorships/partnerships
Develop executive giving programs

Administrative Services

Assist in the planning of board meetings, making all necessary arrangements and assembly of all materials, including board books
Manage any commitments that are ongoing, multi-year, matching or pledged
Manage all record keeping including but not limited to formal minutes at all relevant meetings and the receipt of all nonprofit communications
Provide monthly summary report detailing all foundation activity and commitments

Contact Us

Are you ready to get started with your philanthropy plan?