Why are Campaign Report Meetings Important?

Capital campaigns are remarkable undertakings that require extraordinary effort from those involved, including the fundraising professionals who design and implement the campaign, as well as the organization’s professional staff, donors, and volunteers. This article outlines the steps involved in campaign report meetings for a large, membership based organization. In this type of campaign, a handful…

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Seize the Moment

When is the best time for an organization to begin a capital campaign? The truth is, it’s best to seize the moment and begin now! Read on to learn why, and be sure to check out Your Capital Campaign Timeline for even more on this topic. When Will You Be Ready? Most of our work…

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Campaign Progress Reports: The Basics

Reporting on the progress of a capital campaign is a vital function of an efficient and effective fundraising initiative. Capital campaigns are often large endeavors that can appear overwhelming and unaccountable. They are actually precise initiatives with a specific schedule of activities that must be accomplished in a particular order. Therefore, it’s important that your…

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Benefits of a Capital Campaign

What does it mean to have a successful capital campaign? Clearly, reaching or exceeding the dollar goal is a significant and meaningful measure. Winning campaigns, however, create, multiple and diverse ripples of activity throughout an organization which help it become stronger and better able to fulfill its mission.

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How to Be an Agent of Change

I was surprised to see in recent weeks that a six-year-old book remains on the New York Times Best Seller List, recently at #3 among nonfiction paperbacks. The book is The Tipping Point:  How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell. It seems as though it has become its own best promoter, demonstrating what happens when…

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Overcome the Emotional Costs of Paying for Fundraising

Few Board Members would argue with the adage “You have to spend money to make money.” Yet campus leaders often quibble about how much to spend to raise money or what funds to use to finance campaign costs. Perhaps a more pertinent expression when it comes to paying for fund-raising is “Everybody wants to go…

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Because You Can

Success is relative, but perfection is precise! What for one organization or person would be an extraordinary performance, for another is disappointing. It’s all relative to the standard with which something is compared. Years ago, I participated in a panel discussion during a board retreat for a very well respected regional arts festival. They were…

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Crafting a Compelling Presentation

One of the keys to a successful capital campaign is to treat every major gift solicitation as a mini-campaign unto itself. Each prospect must receive an individualized approach. Adequate preparation must be invested in each request to create the greatest chance for success.  A big part of that work is putting together a case for…

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