Capital Campaigns

The best campaigns are designed with this concept in mind. They are implemented from an overall framework, from the pre-study phase to the study to any post study fine-tuning to the quiet phase—moving through the sequential phases until you joyfully announce the campaign and celebrate success. Sometimes we encounter a client—or potential client—who has an understanding of these best practices, but would like to make an exception. Now don’t get me wrong, every campaign is unique and you have to fine-tune your strategy—and be flexible. But be sure to always keep the big picture in mind.

The messages you send early on in a project’s development, the leaders you involve, how you plan for and implement a campaign and when you break ground all impact the success of a major fundraising campaign. Throughout a campaign, if people think the project is taken care of, by the organization, or other donors or volunteers, they will happily pass and let someone else do it...

If a capital campaign might be in your organization’s future, it’s never too soon to think about the steps of good capital campaign planning. If your board is just starting to talk about a new building at board meetings, a capital campaign is probably in your future. And if you see a capital campaign coming…

We have been moving at a rapid pace—researching, studying, asking, evaluating and communicating. A steady, but rapid pace. Too often we see nonprofits not planning ahead, and then suddenly trying to rush a study process and then rush a campaign. If you are looking at a major campaign, begin taking the right steps at least a year in advance—and ideally two. Hurry up, slow down and prepare. It will put you in the fast lane toward a successful campaign.

For the ultimate intense experience in fundraising, try tackling a capital campaign. Even if you have a campaign or two under your belt, it always pays to go participate in a capital campaign course as a refresher in the field.

Baseball legend Tommy Lasorda once said, "Pennants are won and lost during spring training," and the same is true with successful major fundraising campaigns. It is the preparation—the right preparation—that will make your campaign seamless, energizing and successful!

If you really want to maximize fundraising success, you embark on a feasibility study before a major campaign.

By definition a campaign is a short-term event. There is a specific project and a time-limited, specific goal. And that's where, in most cases, the problem starts. I say "most cases" because I have met some fundraisers who have this right.

A campaign to encourage board giving had too many foundational principles that were violated. Here are the seven deadly sins of fundraising committed, sins you can avoid by following fundraising best practices.

What is it each day, each week and each month that you absolutely must focus on for the best possible fundraising results?