Do not partner with a capital campaign consultant until you have laid the groundwork that prepares you for a Planning & Assessment (Feasibility) Study.
Your pre-campaign work includes:
- Identifying the objectives that you want to raise money for. The objectives may include a new build, renovation of a facility, mortgage reduction, program development, etc.
- Develop a range of costs for the objectives. Preliminary cost factors are not intended to be exact figures, but need to be reliable because they will eventually determine the financial goal for your capital campaign.
- Draft a simple document explaining the importance of the objective(s), including the impact and benefits for your organization.
- Share this document with your board, staff, key volunteers, and a few of your major donors. Ask for their advice. What do they think about the proposal? Are they supportive? Excited? What are their questions/concerns? There’s a fundraising adage that says if you want money ask for advice, and if you want advice ask for money!
- Based on the responses, you may want to refine the proposal for the next steps.
- Now you are ready to engage a capital campaign consultant to conduct a Planning & Assessment (Feasibility) Study. Your board needs to be informed of the importance of the study and supportive of moving forward.
Keep in mind that fundraising is not just about money…it’s about the impact and difference your organization can make…money follows mission!
John V. Clark, President/Partner
The James Company
Phone: (815) 353-8997
Email: jclark@jamescompany.com
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