Stop running events.
Start building campaigns.

This is the core challenge of the Mobilize phase. Most programs hand people a fundraising page and hope for the best. Radiance emphasizes teaching people how to ask, not just giving them tools. That means coaching, modeling, and creating social proof that fundraising is normal and expected.

Ask this question: "If we cut this, what's our plan for building community some other way?" Many organizations asking "why are we still doing this?" are the same ones saying "we need to build community" and "we're too dependent on a few major donors." The only way to spread your mission is person by person, making a compelling personal connection. There are less expensive ways to do it, like digital marketing, but those methods are also much less personal. At some point, you have to connect with individual hearts. 

Participation in some legacy formats has declined, yes. But that's not the whole story. Organizations that focus on cause connection and community continue to grow. Walk to End Alzheimer's went from $38M to over $100M by doubling down on mission, not gimmicks. The sector isn't dying; it's sorting. The programs built on strategy are pulling ahead; the ones built on inertia are falling behind.

The Multiply phase includes "Measure what matters" for a reason. Revenue is one metric, but it's not the only one. Track fundraiser activation rates, new donor acquisition, donor retention from P2P-acquired donors, and program-to-program retention. These tell you whether you're building community or just collecting money.

Less than some vendors may tell you, and more than you might think. The "Enable with technology" essential isn't about having the fanciest platform, it's about reducing friction for participants. The question is: what systems make it easy for people to participate? Start there, not with feature or price lists.

It may take two to three cycles to see meaningful change, assuming you need to make real adjustments, not just tactical tweaks. However, a solid framework like the Radiance Model paired with an excellent and passionate team can make huge headway. We recently worked with Fred Hutch Cancer Center's Obliteride and made major strides in over the course of a year and realized significant growth over the course of two. It can be done!