The Campaign Cabinet Gets the Campaign Moving

Your nonprofit organization has decided to take the plunge and begin a capital campaign to raise $5 to $6 million. You have just retained Custom Development Solutions (CDS) to direct your Feasibility Study to help determine the timing and size of the campaign. Now you’ll begin to use the capital campaign plan which was the…

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A Major Fundraising Capital Campaign –Take Your Marks, Get Set, and Go!

Preparing for a major fundraising campaign can be a momentous process in the life of a non-profit organization. Board members, executives, and professionals are excited and probably more than a little anxious as they consider how best to begin the complicated and important process of raising major capital commitments. The objective viewpoint of experienced campaign…

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Starting an Annual Giving Program

I know that fundraising is my vocation because I can never pass up an opportunity to contribute to an organization’s development efforts. Such was the case with a fledgling not-for-profit group to which I belong. They are a dedicated support group for families of children born with a certain birth defect. Their president is a…

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Spotlight on Success – Making Your Campaign the Priority

Capital campaigns are extraordinary endeavors. According to Webster’s, extraordinary means “going beyond what is usual, regular, or customary.” That is certainly the sort of approach a not-for-profit organization needs to take when conducting a capital campaign. Your objective is not just to achieve a goal but also to maximize your potential, to know that the…

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Research and Study Can Often Open One’s Eyes to Reality

Nonprofit organizations regularly hire fundraising consultants to help them determine the feasibility of undertaking a capital campaign. Often times the management and board of the non-profits have notions and beliefs about fundraising that are not consistent with reality. It is the responsibility of the consultant to diplomatically but firmly correct the misperceptions. This can be…

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Ready, Set, Help – Are We Ready for a Capital Campaign?

One of the most common objections to beginning a capital campaign is that the organization’s leaders do not feel the group is “ready” to begin. How do you know if your organization is indeed ready for a campaign? It’s best to begin with the needs: Are there clear needs that must be funded? Do you…

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Capital Campaign Plan: A Road Map to Success

Every successful campaign begins with a plan. The capital campaign plan is a detailed set of procedural guidelines for campaign leaders and volunteers. Read on to learn some key fundraising elements and techniques to include in your own capital campaign plan. Fundraising Plan Techniques There are many vital techniques at work within a good fundraising…

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