Development Strategy, Pipeline & Action Plan
A clear working page for the Development Committee to review current funding relationships, sponsorship opportunities, grant priorities, event fundraising, and the specific actions needed to help Final Third Foundation grow sustainably.
FY 2026–2027 SMART Goals
These are the committee’s core measurable priorities for the year.
Grow individual giving through stronger stewardship, recurring giving, and major donor cultivation.
Increase corporate, program, event, and community sponsorship support.
Grow unrestricted support to strengthen operations and long-term sustainability.
Secure at least three new institutional or foundation partners.
Committee Dashboard
A simple snapshot of where attention should go first.
Highest Priority
Clarify ownership and next steps for every major relationship, especially active grant applications and warm sponsorship leads.
Strongest Current Base
F3 has meaningful institutional momentum through existing public, healthcare, foundation, and community partners.
- $400,000 State Capital Budget Award
- $230,000 Nationwide Children’s HNHF
- $150,000 Franklin County Commissioners
- $75,000 Battelle Award for 2026–27
- Growing City of Columbus and United Way partnerships
Biggest Opportunity
Convert event relationships, board connections, and warm corporate introductions into year-round donors, grantors, or sponsorships.
Grants & Institutional Funding
Confirmed, pending, and future grant opportunities from the current pipeline.
| Grant / Institution | 2025–26 | 2026–27 Target | Contact / Lead | Program Area | Status | Committee Need |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide Children’s HNHF | $230,000 | $230,000 Awarded | Katie Higgins | Soccer & Literacy | Renewal / Confirm | Steward relationship; prepare strong impact report and renewal conversation. |
| State of Ohio Capital Budget Received | $400,000 | $400,000 Awarded | NA | Pathways Park / F3 Hub | Comitted | Maintain ongoing communication with State Representatives and State Senators to support future collaboration and investment opportunities. |
| Franklin County Commissioners Award | $150,000 | $150,000 Awarded | Brittany Hillyard | S&L / Sprouts | Renewal | Maintain reporting quality and identify future county relationship opportunities. |
| United Way of Central Ohio | $20,000 | $20,000 Awarded | Colin Hepler | S&L / Sprouts | Renewal | Continue stewardship and explore expanded partnership alignment. |
| City of Columbus Summer Award | $24,500 | $49,000 Awarded | Columbus Recreation & Parks | Summer Camp | Growth Opportunity | Use camp outcomes and public impact to strengthen future request. |
| Battelle SMART Grant | — | $75,000 Awarded | Juan Alvarez, Battelle | Education / Health & Nutrition / Summer Camp Growth | Awarded for 2026–27 | Steward relationship, provide strong reporting, invite Battelle representatives to programs and events, and explore future multi-year investment opportunities. |
| US Soccer Forward, Expert Partner | — | $50,000 | Nora Dooley | Soccer at Schools / Training | Applied / Applying | Clarify partner fit and support national training/readiness narrative. |
| FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund | — | $250,000 | No current contact | Education / Global Impact | Needs Connection | Committee help needed for introduction or warm pathway. |
| Capital Improvement Project — Columbus Foundation | — | $100,000 | Dan Sharpe | Pathways Park / Capital | Applied / Applying | Support with capital case, site impact, and follow-up. |
| PNC Grow Up Great | $20,000 | $30,000 | Kelsey Gregory | Soccer & Literacy for Littles | Renew / Increase | Frame early childhood literacy impact and growth opportunity. |
| Elevate All | — | $75,000–$100,000 | Marshall Troxwell / Elon Simms | Operating / Youth Development | Still to Apply | Confirm best request angle and strengthen public-sector alignment. |
| Siemer Family Foundation | — | $25,000 | No current contact | Youth / Family Stability | Needs Contact | Committee help needed identifying connection. |
| Columbus Youth Foundation | — | $10,000 | No current contact | Youth Development | Still to Apply | Prepare concise youth impact case. |
Sponsorships, Donors & Corporate Prospects
Current general sponsorships, donor leads, and relationship opportunities.
Confirmed / Current Support
- Soller Insurance: $10,000 in 2025–26
- Pathways Financial Credit Union: $20,000 in 2025–26
- Safelite: $3,000 for Goals on the Green Golf Classic
- Siebert Keck Insurance: $5,000 target for 2026–27
- Bobbie’s Shoppe: $10,000 target for 2026–27
Priority Prospects
- Huntington Bank: Lindsay Baker, VP / Director of Philanthropy
- Emerald Psychiatry: Scott Bone, Head of Strategic Partnerships
Strategic Corporate Targets for 2026–27
- Huntington: Community Impact Partner / Pathways Park
- Nationwide Insurance: Youth Development, Health & Nutrition, Summer Camp
- Greif: Sustainability, Environmental Awareness, Workforce Development
- Chase: Community Development and Financial Wellness
- AEP: Environmental Awareness and Community Impact
- Cardinal Health: Health & Nutrition and Youth Wellness
- Worthington Enterprises: Skilled Trades, Workforce Development, Community Investment
Corporate Target Strategy
These companies should be treated as strategic relationship opportunities, not just one-time sponsorship asks. The goal is to identify the right contact, connect F3’s work to each company’s giving priorities, and build a year-round partnership pathway.
| Prospect / Sponsor | Opportunity | Status | Suggested Ask / Positioning | Committee Need |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington Bank | General sponsor / community partner / Pathways Park | Warm Cultivation | Support at any level while larger relationship is developed. | Review page, advise on fit, support relationship with VP of Philanthropy. |
| Nationwide Insurance | Youth development, health and nutrition, summer camp | Needs Connection | Position F3 as a local youth development and wellness partner with community-wide reach. | Identify internal champion or foundation/community relations contact. |
| Greif | Sustainability, environmental awareness, workforce development | Warm Lead | Connect F3’s environmental awareness, youth development, and community education work to Greif’s giving priorities. | Schedule introductory conversation and identify best-fit program or event opportunity. |
| Chase | Community development, financial wellness, capital support | Needs Connection | Frame Pathways Park and F3 programming as community infrastructure and youth opportunity. | Identify Columbus-based decision maker or community relations contact. |
| AEP | Environmental awareness and community impact | Needs Connection | Connect Sprouts, outdoor learning, and Pathways Park to environmental education and community investment. | Committee introduction needed. |
| Cardinal Health | Health & Nutrition and youth wellness | Needs Connection | Connect F3’s Health & Nutrition program, snack curriculum, and youth wellness model to Cardinal Health priorities. | Board or committee outreach needed. |
| Worthington Enterprises | Workforce development and community investment | Needs Connection | Position F3’s pathway work, workforce development, and community-based facility growth as aligned opportunities. | Research foundation/community contact and identify possible introduction. |
| Emerald Psychiatry | Wellness, youth development, and community health | Prospect | Connect mental wellness, physical activity, and youth support. | Determine next step and relationship owner. |
| Pathways Financial Credit Union | Renewal / expanded partnership | Renewal | Renew annual support and explore deeper community finance/education alignment. | Steward relationship and prepare renewal conversation. |
Event Fundraising & Engagement
Events should be viewed as fundraising opportunities and relationship engines.
Columbus Nations Cup
2026 event revenue currently listed at $22,700, compared with $45,195 in 2025 and $30,300 in 2024.
- Event sponsors include Acloche, Ramsden Family Foundation, Morgan Stanley, Grandad’s, and individual donors.
- 50% of proceeds support CRIS Community Connectors and 50% support F3.
- Use this event to cultivate long-term sponsors and partners beyond one-day visibility. Beginning in 2027, the event will evolve into a showcase for community impact, partnerships, and organizational visibility.
Goals on the Green Golf Classic
Current listed revenue without auction items: $11,825, including Safelite’s $3,000 sponsorship.
- Confirmed/identified sponsors include Raymond James, CommsResource, and Safelite.
- Safelite: $3,000 confirmed sponsor.
- Auction items include Schooley Dental, Tennis Ltd, OSU tickets, and Luxe & Lemons.
- Opportunity: board members can help with teams, sponsorships, and auction packages.
Event Strategy Recommendation
The committee should treat each event as a relationship-building platform. Every sponsor, attendee, team captain, and donor should have a post-event follow-up plan, not just a thank-you email.
What We Need From the Development Committee
Clear expectations make the committee more useful and easier to engage.
1. Open Doors
- Make warm introductions to donors, companies, and foundations.
- Identify contacts connected to listed prospects.
- Help F3 get in the right rooms.
2. Own Follow-Up
- Each priority relationship needs an owner.
- Every meeting should end with next steps.
- No lead should sit without a follow-up date.
3. Steward Relationships
- Thank donors and sponsors personally.
- Invite partners to events and site visits.
- Share impact stories throughout the year.
Each One Reach One
Each Development Committee member should aim to make one meaningful introduction, cultivation touchpoint, or donor/sponsor follow-up each month.
Meeting Structure
Every committee meeting should review the dashboard, current pipeline, upcoming deadlines, event opportunities, assigned owners, and next steps.
Quarterly Priorities
A simple annual rhythm for committee focus.
June–August
- Golf outing sponsorship outreach
- Summer Camp storytelling and reporting
- Sponsorship cultivation meetings
- Fall grant calendar preparation
- CRM implementation planning
September–November
- Giving Tuesday preparation
- End-of-year campaign development
- Legacy Award engagement
- Major donor cultivation
- Board outreach planning
December–February
- Year-end donor stewardship
- Grant submissions
- Sponsorship renewals
- Impact reporting
- Spring event planning
March–May
- Nations Cup planning
- Fiscal year review
- Annual donor reporting
- Strategic planning for next year
- Board development review