It is well known in fundraising circles that a written case for support is a “must have” tool to be used in a comprehensive or capital campaign. The case does what its name suggests: it makes the case for why donors should give to support your campaign priorities.
Your strategic plan presents a bold vision and calls for a campaign to make it happen. A feasibility study is the logical next step. But what happens if leadership gets cold feet?
I have been spending the last few days in Southern California, accompanying my daughter, Cameron, on a new student weekend at Occidental College, where she intends to enroll in the fall. OXY is a beautiful place, a lovely campus and just the kind of college I was hoping Cameron would choose. And needless to say, for a competitive swimmer, the thought of swimming (and sunning) outdoors year-round must be extremely attractive. If I was heading off to college these days, I’m not sure Galesburg, Illinois would be on my list of top locations to spend four years!
If you look for them, you will find numerous reasons why your campaign cannot possibly work. There may be valid reasons to delay the start of your campaign, but the following are not among them!
I love doing feasibility study interviews. That may surprise you. As a senior member of our firm, I guess I could have bowed out of the interview process a long time ago, assigning them to junior members of our firm. Interviews take time and preparation, and they often require travel. So why be so enthusiastic about doing them? Because, for me, a feasibility study interview is the closest thing in our business to the part of the fundraising process that I have always liked best…major giving. Let me explain.
When preparing for a campaign, nonprofits have two main options to consider — capital campaign (also called a focused campaign) or comprehensive campaign?
No matter the goal, if you’re looking to dive into a campaign to help you expand, we applaud you! But do you have everything in place to begin? Ensuring campaign readiness will help you to prevent any setbacks during your campaign.
As you prepare for a capital campaign, there are a few criteria you want to be sure you meet before you dive in. Use the checklist below to help you determine if you’re ready for a campaign, or download the printable version here.