Case Study: BUILD, Inc. achieves $874K in virtual gala fundraising with OneCause

How Ambassadors & Virtual Fundraising Helped BUILD, Inc. Raise $800K

BUILD Inc., a Chicago nonprofit founded in 1969 that supports at‑risk youth, faced the urgent challenge of converting its mission‑critical annual gala to a virtual format to avoid losing a major fundraising vehicle. To move fast and retain donor engagement, BUILD partnered with OneCause, using OneCause Mobile Bidding & Peer‑to‑Peer software to recreate the gala’s auction, appeals, and ambassador fundraising online.

Using OneCause’s tools, BUILD ran an 8‑day virtual campaign with pre‑recorded storytelling, a soft launch for lead donors, a virtual VIP hour, and strong board and ambassador participation to drive outreach. The campaign generated 435 donations, 105 individual fundraisers across 4 teams, 200 auction bids, 150 new donors, and $874K raised in total.

BUILD, Inc

Kirsten Mallik

Chief Development Officer