Name Change to Kinetic Captures Fundraising Consulting Firm’s Vision and Growth
Kansas City, Mo. (November 10, 2022) – Today Hartsook, a 35-year-old global fundraising consulting firm, announced its new name is Kinetic.The organization unveiled its new brand in conjunction with National Philanthropy Day events in Kansas City, the location of its headquarters.
Kinetic, founded in Wichita, Kan., in 1987, has more than 80 team members worldwide. The organization is well known for its successful partnerships with nonprofit organizations in North America – including all 50 U.S. states and Canada – Europe, Australia, and Central and South America. In an effort to expand its national and global footprint, leaders realized the time had come to build a brand that better reflects Kinetic’s work and vision.
The goal of the name change was to craft a brand that is centered on clients and prospective clients. Chairman and CEO Matt Beem says Kinetic’s leadership team is motivated to grow with a modernized and innovative approach to fundraising and leadership development.
“We are experiencing tremendous growth and decided the time was right to examine the future of our company and current industry trends,” says Beem. “This investment in our future aligns with our vision while spotlighting the work donors, volunteers and fundraisers are doing.”
Defining Kinetic’s Brand
Kinetic’s leadership team worked with brand development, marketing and design firm Signal Theory to review Kinetic’s place within the fundraising consulting landscape. Following a brand audit and client interviews, a series of workshops helped the leadership team define the company’s unique role as a facilitator in the fundraising process.
Clients say Kinetic’s support has helped them stimulate their process and achieve new levels of giving. Jon North, vice president for university advancement at MidAmerica Nazarene University says, “In addition to generating record giving to the institution, they have played a major role in assisting us in identifying and engaging an entirely new generation of volunteer fundraisers and advocates.”
“Unleashing Your Power of Philanthropy” is Kinetic’s new tagline and reflects its core mission.
“Our tagline is about what we can do for the organizations we support and the individuals they impact,” says Kinetic President and co-founder Karin Cox. “It is a constant reminder that our clients are at the center of everything we do.”
A Name for the Future
Kinetic’s role as a catalyst for the fundraising process, as well as the organization’s goals for future growth, inspired the decision to incorporate movement into the name.
“Just as kinetic energy is created when an object is set in motion, we wanted to adopt a look and feel that lives up to our new name and our work,” says Cox. “We’re excited to see our values now matched up with a dynamic brand personality and identity.”
At the same time, Cox says the Kinetic name builds on the 35 years of service to its clients.
“We are grateful for our heritage and history of success with a growing client base. What will not change is the way in which we maximize impact and advance people’s lives and philanthropy,” she says.
Kinetic’s Focus on Service
Kinetic serves organizations of all sectors, geographies and sizes. Each year, Kinetic consultants provide expert counsel to hundreds of clients on topics ranging from managing major capital campaigns and strengthening their philanthropic foundation to succession planning, grant writing, volunteer training and executive recruitment.
In addition to working directly with clients, Kinetic provides expertise to the fundraising community at large through conference presentations, an annual summit, a speaker series and the publication of numerous books and articles on fundraising and leadership.
“I have always found them to bring structure, discipline and accountability to our work,” says Matthew Naylor, president and CEO of the National WWI Museum and Memorial Kansas City. “They provide an invaluable service in equipping our board and campaign cabinet with a deeper understanding of fundraising and major gift philanthropy.”
Kinetic has counseled several nationally known clients such as The Boy Scouts of America, The Salvation Army and Feeding America, and helped clients with a number of high-visibility regional projects, including:
- MidAmerica Nazarene University: Bright Futures Campaign (Olathe, Kan.): MidAmerica Nazarene University originally envisioned raising $62 million. After successfully raising $20 million for its Cunningham Center last year, the university extended its timeline and stretched its goal to $75 million.
- Harvesters – the Community Food Network (Kansas City, Mo.): In the last 18 months Kinetic has supported Harvesters in raising $23.4 million, its largest fundraising year to date. In total, Kinetic has supported campaigns that raised more than $250 million in private donations for the nonprofit.
- Phillips Fundamental Learning Center: Transforming Education Through Literacy Campaign (Wichita, Kan.): The campaign exceeded its $20 million goal and is completing a $5 million stretch goal to build a new, Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired building, to increase capacity and expand programs for children with Dyslexia.
“We continue to innovate, evolve and improve for the benefit of our clients, their donors and volunteers as well as the communities they serve,” says Beem.
National Philanthropy Day Events
Kinetic will debut its new name and look to the philanthropic community at National Philanthropy Day events in Kansas City Nov. and will make announcements at events Nov. 14 in Cape Fear, N.C., Nov. 15 in Wichita and Nov. 16 in Fayetteville, Ark.
“We are honored to sponsor the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ annual awards and celebrations,” says Beem. “It’s a gratifying way to connect with those who have helped us succeed and thank those who embody the spirit of philanthropy through volunteerism and charitable giving.”
Visit kineticfundraising.com and connect with Kinetic on Facebook and LinkedIn to receive the latest updates.
About Kinetic
Kinetic was founded in Wichita, Kan. in 1987 as Hartsook. The company has served clients in North America – including all 50 U.S. states and Canada – Europe, Australia, and Central and South America. Kinetic’s team of more than 80 consultants, employees and allied professionals work across sectors to support nonprofits of every size in raising billions of dollars worldwide. Kinetic utilizes creative, research-based fundraising counsel to help nonprofit organizations unleash their power of philanthropy while maintaining the highest standards of ethics and excellence. Kinetic clients include Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Boy Scouts of America, Feeding America and The Salvation Army, among others.
Media Contact: Jennifer Nigro
M (785) 830-0036; jennifer.nigro@signaltheory.com
