When gearing up to conduct a multimillion-dollar campaign, preparation is everything. CEOs and board members often question the need to invest time and money into a Readiness Assessment and a Feasibility Study. These tools can make or break your campaign. Ask your board if they would invest in a for-profit business that hasn’t done its homework…one that hasn’t talked with investors, or researched the infrastructure that will ensure success, or identified the tools and staffing needed to get it off the ground. The same goes for organizing a capital or comprehensive campaign.
Read MoreThese are Unprecedented Times—We Cannot Possibly Launch a Campaign Now!
There is no perfect time…now is the time!
Despite facing what feels like “unprecedented times,” many nonprofits have successfully launched and completed fundraising campaigns during periods of crisis. Rather than halting your campaign efforts, adapt your strategy with compassion, transparency, and a clear focus on the organization’s goals.
Emphasize your mission’s relevance and urgency. During uncertain times, the need for your nonprofit’s programs and services may actually increase, even as funding becomes tighter. Your campaign should clearly communicate urgency to donors and potential funders.
Read MoreFeeling the Fear and Doing it Anyway!
Fear, we all experience it. Large major gift campaigns instill fear into every one of us. We can accomplish all the tasks we assign ourselves — forming a compelling and urgent case, identifying the prospective donors, recruiting the leadership, developing a solid plan…but success boils down to asking donors for financial investment.
Read MoreOnward! But Are You Ready?
Whether you call it a Capital Campaign or a Comprehensive Campaign…the excitement and fear are the same. Most nonprofit professionals rarely have the opportunity to be on a development team that is conducting a large fundraising campaign. Even fewer of us have the opportunity to lead the effort. I have been a frontline fundraiser for over 30 years leading both large and small development shops. And, I have been fortunate to lead three large campaigns, two comprehensive campaigns and one endowment campaign. If you are one of the lucky few that has been anointed the privilege of leading your organization’s upcoming campaign, let me share some advice.
Read MoreAdvancing Your Nonprofit Through a Comprehensive Campaign
Embarking on a comprehensive campaign is an exciting opportunity for any nonprofit and the catalyst for significant growth into the future. This is an opportunity to maximize the goodwill of your nonprofit in the community.
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