Resource Mobilisation

Our fundraising approach: Powered by the Double Diamond (4D) process

At Lustre, we don’t just fundraise, we design funding strategies that are innovative, structured, and sustainable. Our bespoke 10-step process is rooted in the Double Diamond (4D) framework, a proven methodology for problem-solving and innovation. This approach ensures that fundraising is not just reactive but strategic, donor-aligned, and impact-driven.

What is the Double Diamond (4D) Process?

Originally developed by the UK Design Council, the Double Diamond is a structured process that helps organizations move from exploration to execution through four key phases:

Discover – Understanding challenges and opportunities
Define – Narrowing down key focus areas
Develop – Co-creating solutions
Deliver – Implementing and refining solutions

At Lustre, we apply this model to fundraising, ensuring that every funding effort is based on a deep understanding of your mission, donor priorities, and strategic opportunities.

The Double Diamond 4D Design process

How Lustre uses the 4D process for fundraising

Discover: Understanding Your Organization’s Funding Needs

The best way to discover a problem is to interact with people in their natural environment, look at the world in a fresh way, notice new things and gather insights.

We start by refining your value proposition and identifying clear funding needs to ensure your fundraising efforts are strategic and focused.

Define: Structuring Your Fundraising Approach

When the problem is discovered, we try to answer the following questions to develop a clear brief that frames the fundamental design challenge:

🔦 Which matters most?

🔦 Which should we act on first?

🔦 What is feasible?

Using this, we develop clear funding topics or themes that align with your mission and global donor priorities.

Develop: Co-Creating Fundable Ideas

In this stage, we create concepts, we prototype, we test and iterate. This process of trial and error helps our designers to refine ideas.

Through a collaborative process, we co-create innovative funding solutions for each topic and transform them into compelling concept notes that resonate with donors.

Deliver: Turning Ideas into Funded Projects

This stage is equally important. Many excellent solutions flounder because of poor delivery.

At this stage, we conduct donor mapping, submit concept notes, and, if successful, develop full proposals, support contracting, and provide grant management assistance to ensure effective project implementation.

Our bespoke approach to securing sustainable funding

At Lustre, we believe that successful fundraising starts with clarity, strategy, and innovation. That’s why we’ve developed a bespoke, structured process that helps organizations refine their value proposition, identify their funding needs, and secure the right funding opportunities. Our 10-step approach ensures that fundraising is not just about writing proposals but about aligning your mission with the right funding partners to drive sustainable impact.

Our 10-step fundraising process

Discover: Laying the foundation

Step 1: Value proposition refinement
Before seeking funding, it is crucial to clearly articulate your unique value proposition—what makes your organization stand out? We help you define and sharpen this message to ensure that funders see the strategic impact and innovation you bring.
Step 2: Identifying funding needs
Together, we analyze your organization’s funding landscape, financial gaps, and strategic priorities to determine the right fundraising targets.

Define: Structuring your funding topics

Step 3: Developing funding topics or themes
We help your organization identify fundable themes that align with your mission and funding priorities. These become the foundation for compelling funding proposals.

Develop: Co-creating fundable ideas

Step 4: Co-creating solutions and funding ideas
For each funding topic, we facilitate a co-creation process to develop innovative, evidence-based funding ideas that align with donor interests and global priorities.

Deliver: Bringing funding ideas to life

Step 5: Developing concept notes
We translate funding ideas into well-structured concept notes—concise documents that capture the essence of your project and serve as a first touchpoint for engaging donors.
Step 6: Conducting donor mapping
LUSTRE conducts targeted donor mapping to identify the most relevant funding partners for each concept note. This ensures strategic alignment with donor priorities and maximizes funding potential.
Step 7: Submitting concept notes & iteration
We support the submission of concept notes to donors and refine them based on feedback to increase the likelihood of funding.
Step 8: Developing full proposals
When a donor expresses interest, we develop full proposals that are compelling, data-driven, and aligned with donor requirements.
Step 9: Supporting the contracting process
If a proposal is successful, we assist in navigating the contracting process, ensuring that agreements are structured to best serve your organization’s mission and long-term sustainability.
Step 10: Grant management support
Fundraising doesn’t end with securing funds—it extends to effective grant management. We help organizations meet reporting requirements, manage donor relationships, and ensure compliance with funding agreements.

Why this approach matters

The Double Diamond model ensures that fundraising is not random. It is strategic and evidence-based. By following this structured process, we help organizations:

Align with the right donors
Create compelling funding proposals
Maximize funding success rates
Ensure long-term sustainability

At Lustre, we bring strategy, innovation, and precision to fundraising, helping organizations secure the right funding to drive lasting impact.

Let’s co-create your next fundraising success.

Connect with us today!

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