Campaign Readiness & Planning

Campaign Leadership

Leadership is one of the most important components of a successful capital campaign.  Some questions to ask about your organization’s readiness to lead a capital campaign:

  • Does executive staff have campaign experience? What about your development director?  Have you considered help from a consultant?
  • Are all board members current donors?  Are most board members prepared to make a major contribution to the campaign?
  • Are board members ready and able to open doors for major gift solicitation? Your board is often your best route to the community leaders who will fund your project – a board with limited community connections may need additions.
  • Have you built strong consensus on the board and staff about the project?  Only a unified voice among project leadership will result in community credibility and willingness among donors to get involved.

Case for Support and Campaign Plan

A rock-solid campaign plan and case for support are essential predecessors to a successful capital campaign.

The Case for Support, which you’ve likely drafted as part of your fundraising feasibility study, should:

  • Describe an urgent need
  • Detail how the project addresses the need
  • Address how it supports your mission and dovetails with your strategic plan
  • Convey the impact of the project vividly
  • Back up the case with business plan information and other statistics

A Campaign Plan sets up the process for achieving the campaign goal

It should be developed in the context of your strategic plan and general development plan, so as not to short-circuit ongoing annual fund development.

A Campaign Plan includes (but isn’t limited to):

  • A gift chart outlining the amount and quantity of gifts required at each level
  • Detailed donor prospects for the top levels of giving
  • Strategies for soliciting individual, foundation, corporate, and in-kind gifts
  • Campaign timetable
  • Budget for campaign expenses

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