Posts Tagged ‘capital campaign planning’
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…
Read MoreBecause 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…
Read MoreAnatomy of the Leadership Gift Phase
When you’re starting a capital campaign for your organization, it’s important to not only begin with the largest gifts, but also to recruit your top givers as leaders in the campaign. This is what we at CDS call the Leadership Gift Phase. The Leadership Gift Phase is the single most important activity of the campaign,…
Read MoreBuilding 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…
Read MoreDirecting a Fundraising Capital Campaign: Ways to Lead the Staff and Volunteers
It seems as though “leadership” is one of the first topics to come up whenever a discussion turns to fundraising. Who is going to lead the campaign, who is going to lead the givers, who is going to lead the meetings, who is going to lead the volunteers, and who is going to lead, lead,…
Read MoreCampaign Committee Prospect Evaluation
Prospect evaluation during the early parts of a capital campaign is perhaps one of the most awkward activities. The key is to have a well-developed strategy that demystifies the process, puts the campaign volunteers at ease, and draws out clear conclusions about which prospects represent the greatest potential for support. The benefits reaped from candid…
Read MoreCapital Campaign Preparation
So you’ve decided to conduct a capital campaign on behalf of your organization. This campaign and its success will help determine its future effectiveness in providing services consistent with your organization’s mission and purpose. You’ve taken all the appropriate steps, including a comprehensive feasibility study to ensure that your base of support is ready, willing,…
Read MoreUpgrade Your Capital Campaign Committee
In a well-organized capital campaign, it is the Campaign Executive Committee, or CEC, that understands and assumes responsibility for the success of the campaign. The members of the committee are often serious business professionals in their own right, but each campaign is typically a multi-million dollar project. Therefore, as fundraising counsel, we cannot assume that…
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