Cause Development^® Methodology

DCA advises leaders of non-profit, philanthropic, corporate and civic organizations that are pursuing social progress and are seeking ways to achieve the greatest impact possible. Our model for moving social causes forward relies on discovering and linking five critical elements – clear vision, effective champions, strategic partners, innovation, and financial support.

Articulating the cause

At the center of our methodology is the cause. It is our experience that causes are the most transformative forces in society. They activate the desire within individuals and institutions to serve others and generate the will and the resources to make things happen. Causes transform lives, communities and even the world at large.

DCA helps clients to focus their causes as goals that are specific, measurable, appealing to people interested in change, and reasonable.

Developing champions

Societies are fickle about priorities. Support for even the most pressing problems tends to wane as attention shifts to the next big event or issue. Lack of staying power is a major barrier to progress. To be successful, causes need a champion organization that will focus its attention, influence and resources on a goal until it is achieved. Some of the characteristics we look for in champions are: willingness to take responsibility for achieving change; readiness to take on major challenges; motivation to create alliances; and a certain relentlessness about achieving the goal.

DCA helps clients identify and recruit strong champions and gives them the guidance they need to be effective in their role.

Creating strategic partners

The complexity, scope and expense of tackling social problems are almost always too much for one organization to handle alone. DCA’s approach uncovers intersections between various organizations’ missions and priorities and our process works to invite partners in.

DCA helps clients cultivate and enlist partners who will make the cause a top priority, take responsibility for executing key strategies and stay committed until the job is done.

Discovering the innovation

Innovation is the key to overcoming the status quo. Innovation can mean a new configuration of resources or perhaps a new alliance or some new technology. Whether the innovation is obvious or not, it must have clarity and focus in order to connect with prospective supporters.

DCA helps clients answer the “why now” question and, in so doing, bring urgency and optimism to their cause.

Financing the cause

Attracting financial support is usually one of the greatest challenges of any social initiative. Yet, it is far easier to accomplish when the other elements of cause development are in place. Potential supporters view themselves as partners in an effort that has momentum, solid leadership, and a group of organizations and individuals who stand behind the strategies and goals, and are ready to carry them out.

DCA helps clients identify the full range of potential supporters for a cause, learn why they would be interested and why they would be willing to contribute, and bring them on board.