Since 1987, St. Matthew’s House in Naples, Florida, has been a refuge for people experiencing hunger, homelessness, and addiction. Its mission is simple but profound: no one should have to walk through crisis alone.

As Southwest Florida’s population surged, so did the demand for St. Matthew’s House’s services. Emergency shelter beds were full, recovery programs were at capacity, and the need for comprehensive support kept growing. The organization knew it had to act—but meeting the challenge would require its largest campaign to date.

That’s when they partnered with the Winkler Group to launch the Journey Together campaign, designed to strengthen both their physical footprint and their long-term financial health.

The Campaign: Aligning Urgency with Vision

The Journey Together campaign wasn’t just about expanding facilities—it was about equipping St. Matthew’s House to meet people at every stage of crisis and recovery.

We worked closely with leadership to refine their case for support and to clearly communicate how increased capacity would translate to greater impact. Through donor interviews and strategic cultivation, we uncovered deep community support for the organization’s mission. Our feasibility study also revealed strong potential for significant growth in major gifts.

Key campaign priorities included: expanding emergency shelter space by 32 percent, increasing recovery program capacity to serve 223 people daily (up from 184), and strengthening annual giving and long-term sustainability.

In tandem with the campaign, we helped St. Matthew’s House shift its fundraising strategy to focus on cultivating major donors—many of whom had never given at transformational levels before.