10 Things You Need to Know About Capital Campaigns

By Thomas W. Mesaros and Cate A. Fox

7. Adjust  timing expectations
Gifts are being given, but many are taking longer to get and are less than originally expected. Many individuals are trying to predict what the market will do to determine whether they will make gifts and the size of the potential gifts. Initial gifts to the campaign are not necessarily the last gifts. We find that five-year payouts for major-gift donors are becoming the rule rather than the exception. Be flexible with donors around timing; some donors may need to ease in to their giving. Enable donors who desire to be supportive but cannot give cash right now to make deferred gifts that will be used in the future. Or allow a portion of their gifts to  be allocated to capital and  endowment needs.