Are you wishing on a capital campaign?
Oh no! We need a new building. The offer letter is on the table.What now? We need money!But wait, we haven't done any fundraising in the past. We need millions tomorrow to move into our new facility and to make all the necessary upgrades.…
Are you asking for money? Or inviting investors in your nonprofit organization?
What is the old saying, "You say it 'potato' and I say it is ..."Unfortunately, when it comes to donors, I don't think you can splice words.Are we asking for money? Asking for support?Or are we thinking about this relationship differently…
Nonprofit capital campaign named gift opportunities
Most nonprofit capital campaigns have some form of named gift opportunities.However, contrary to what one might think is that gifts made to name a specific room in a building do not actually pay for that space. In most cases, the costs of…
Your nonprofit board members role in a capital campaign
Board Member Roles and Responsibilities During a Capital CampaignIn a capital campaign board members should make the organization a priority through:Reviewing their philanthropic priorities and committing to make a "stretch" gift to the…
Don’t skimp on the capital campaign planning
Not sure about your experiences with capital campaigns but they are highly technical with lots of moving pieces.Oftentimes, groups want to skimp on the planning stages. For instance, they want to jump right into campaign mode without…
Capital campaigns – a few things you should know and a few things I would like to know!
Capital campaigns have become in fashion lately.Perhaps it is the recovering economy or perhaps it is something quite else.But, whatever it is, I now have two potential campaigns lined up for this next year.What is a capital campaign?Well…
Whats fund development got to do with strategic planning?
Strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising are processes with specific steps.All three used to be performed independently of the other.Today, their integration into a single process is exemplified by the following principles that all…
Philanthropy is not a multiple choice question for your nonprofit board of directors
So often I have heard this one line uttered..."But I give of my time and that is my gift!"Yes and no.As a Board of Director, you are expected to give of your time. You are a volunteer. You have fiduciary responsibilities that you are…
Your next capital campaign feasibility study should assess internal readiness
Before a capital campaign is conducted, it is imperative to determine an organization’s capacity to succeed.Commonly this is usually done through an external feasibility study.However, I urge most non-profits that in tandem with conducting…
Why a feasibility study is important
Have you ever wondered if you should conduct a feasibility study for a Capital Campaign?Oftentimes, I have heard non-profit groups saying, “Let’s just start the campaign!”And, if you are a small nonprofit, I would urge against by-passing…
An endowment campaign is something for the long haul!
This week a prospective client asked me what is an endowment fund and can I get grants to fund it?That question stopped me dead in my tracks.When was the last time an organization had thought about an endowment fund. Really an organization…
Where do you begin with Major Gifts?
The elusive major gift. The amount is different for each organization. Some organizations might consider a major gift as $500 while others would consider one at $50,000.Whatever your major gift level is, the process to establishing a program…
