Capital Campaigns

People don’t give because they have money — they give because they’re committed to your mission, and they believe in what you’re trying to accomplish. So, it stands to reason that you should never ask anyone for a big gift until they know your mission.

If you’re getting ready for a capital campaign, there is something important you need to know. And it may be the difference between a successful campaign and one that falls short of its goal.

In the capital campaign business, the focus is on raising a great deal of money from a relatively few donors. And it’s all too common for staff members and volunteers to focus their attention exclusively on getting those major gifts.

Are you completely buried in spreadsheets and committees, and your case for support? Are you so stuck in the weeds that you don’t have enough time to actually contact your donors? The same donors who will make or break your capital campaign? Are you even sure who to contact?

A rural public district hospital in the Tri-Cities area of Washington found its capital campaign stalled. This campaign conducted 10 years ago was important. It was launched to expand and improve the hospital’s emergency department to better meet the needs of its growing community.

Some people worry that major gifts will suffer in the years after a capital campaign. But it’s simply not true! Remember, very few things move in simple straight lines. That’s true of human motivation, growth patterns and, yes, even the way people give.

Have you ever wondered how capital campaign consultants figure out how much money your organization can raise for your campaign? Do you ever wonder if their assessments are wrong? Let me tell you a dirty little secret...

Are you stuck in the mud, tired of looking at spreadsheets, organizing committees and writing your case for support? Does it feel like there’s never enough time to actually contact your donors? Do you feel like you’re not ready enough? Like you don’t have enough time? Like you’re not even sure who to contact?...

Birds of a feather flock together… but when it comes to your capital campaign, they’ll only flock well with successful leadership. Your capital campaign committee chairs must be well-organized and maintain excellent communication...

Over the last few decades, I’ve spoken with hundreds of people about their biggest fears of getting ready for a capital campaign. While I could make a list of campaign anxieties longer than your arm, three concerns come up again and again...