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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The Fundraising Rule of Thirds

The fundraising industry has a lot of rules of thumb that development professionals apply to the situations we encounter. What we have to avoid is leaning too heavily on these rules in an effort to make a difficult job easy. The Oxford English Dictionary defines “rule of thumb” as a “roughly practical method.” That is…

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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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Garnering Major Gifts

It’s very common to find that more than 75% of all funds raised in a capital campaign come from major gifts, or contributions of $25,000 and above. A steadfast focus on major gifts is the hallmark of a successful capital campaign, and a strategy that yields rich dividends far beyond the campaign’s life. The Pareto…

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Anniversaries and Capital Campaigns: A Winning Combination

Is your organization celebrating a special anniversary in the near future? Are you considering a capital campaign? If you answered “yes” to both of these questions, you have the potential to increase awareness of your organization and add or upgrade donors! The celebration of your fifth, tenth, twentieth or another anniversary can attract increased media…

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Building on Common Ground

There are an infinite variety of not-for-profit organizations in the world. Every cause imaginable has seen a charity or foundation created by its advocates. As I talk to representatives from a wide slice of these groups, I am struck by the fact that their needs and goals are far more similar than dissimilar. Successful fund…

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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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