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Celebrating 10 Years

Over the past decade, Thread Strategies has grown from a bold idea into a trusted partner for nonprofits striving to maximize their impact. Founded in 2015 with a vision to level the playing field for small and mid-sized organizations, we’ve spent the last 10 years empowering our partners with tailored fundraising strategies, hands-on implementation support, and a commitment to doing the work alongside them. This timeline celebrates the milestones, growth, and partnerships that have shaped Thread Strategies into what it is today. Join us as we look back on 10 years of strengthening the fabric of society—one thread at a time.
 
 

2015

2016

  • In March, Thread Strategies officially launches as a brand! We make our public debut with a new website and social media presence.

  • We celebrate our official launch with a reception in Washington, DC to gather and thank our earliest supporters.

  • Thread embarks on our first partnership with Third Plateau, a national strategy firm. We combine our services to support two nonprofits in 2016, marking the beginning of a long-standing collaboration to deliver complimentary services.

2017

  • After two years of operating with a part-time team, Thread hires our first full-time employee, a principal, to lead partner projects alongside the founder.

  • We complete our first hiring process, placing a Development and Communications Manager at Art Enables, marking the first time the organization had a development staff member. That individual now serves as the Director of Development and Communications at Art Enables.

  • We broaden our services with our first CRM migration project, helping a nonprofit transition from tracking fundraising in Excel.

2018

  • We begin offering fundraising trainings and workshops for Washington, DC-based nonprofits in collaboration with Spur Local (formerly the Catalogue for Philanthropy).

  • Thread’s community of nonprofits that we partner with grows to more than 30.

  • The Thread team expands to two full-time and four part-time team members.

2019

  • The Thread team works to define our core values and shares them with our community.

  • We adopt “Do the Work” as our fundraising mantra, redefining how we support nonprofits.

  • Our leadership team expands with the addition of another full-time principal.

2020

  • Our dedicated team of seven works tirelessly to support 22 nonprofit partners as they pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic, while also offering guidance to our broader network of Thread alumni.

  • Inspired by what many of our nonprofit partners modeled to us, Thread begins our practice of radical rest with a summer all-team break. We use this new practice as a quiet, pandemic-appropriate celebration of our 5th anniversary in August.

  • Thread is invited to present at the Nonprofit Technology Conference, one of our sector’s premier professional events. This is the first of several times that Thread will present at this conference.

2021

  • Thread establishes our first foundation partnership with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, providing capacity-building support to CZI’s Rare As One Network grantees.

  • Embracing the new Zoom culture, we launch the Threading It Together webinar series for fundraising professionals.

  • Our network of nonprofit partners grows to more than 70 organizations supported through development capacity-building.

2022

  • Thread emerges from the pandemic turmoil as a firm that’s double in size and welcomes three new full-time directors to support our growing nonprofit community.

  • Our foundation partnership work grows, and we’re invited to deliver fundraising trainings to all CZI grantees as part of the CZI capacity building partners program.

  • We continue to expand our offerings by launching a planned giving coaching program.

2023

  • We begin our 100th nonprofit partnership!

  • Thread expands its global impact by partnering with Earthshot Prize winner Kheyti, our first nonprofit partner operating entirely outside the United States.

  • The Threading It Together Institute debuts. This intensive, in-person training is geared toward new development professionals and we aim to host an Institute annually.

2024

  • Thread continues to expand our teaching and training offerings by introducing our first cohort program focused on integrating AI into fundraising practices.

  • Thread expands foundation partnerships, working with more than five national funders to deliver development capacity-building training and coaching to grantees.

  • In June, Thread hosts a screening of UnCharitable for our Washington, DC-based community to spark conversation around the film’s call to rethink how our sector approaches funding and advocating for social change.

2025

  • We celebrate 10 years of empowering nonprofits to build stronger fundraising capacity!