A pre-campaign planning study provides an opportunity for your organization to have a meaningful face-to-face exchange with affluent and influential people, through an experienced fundraising consultant. You will not only present your agenda, but learn about theirs— their values, preferences, priorities, and proclivities. The planning study is based on a standard questionnaire, so it looks […]

We talk to a lot of development professionals about their plans for fundraising campaigns and sometimes hear them say, “I know it’s feasible, so we don’t need to do a study!” These individuals are exactly those whose organizations stand to gain the most from conducting an in-depth pre-campaign planning study. When properly conducted, a campaign […]

If you anticipate conducting a pre-campaign planning study (or feasibility study), be sure to allow sufficient time for fundraising counsel to plan and lead your organization through an inclusive process. Counsel will need to prepare for and conduct the study interviews, then carefully analyze the data, and prepare and present the final report with insightful […]

Campaign Planning Studies Over the years we’ve encountered more than a few organizations that have an outdated view of capital campaigns, thinking major campaigns can only support brick and mortar expansions. There is no denying the fact that capital campaigns are often successfully conducted for new and expanded buildings. But is that new building the […]

Does A Careful Campaign Planning Study Always Lead to Greater Success? If a nonprofit executive tells a consultant they want to launch a capital campaign, the consultant will first recommend a study, right? Best practices in fund-raising management point to the importance of and the need for a campaign planning study (a.k.a. feasibility study). In […]

A Self-Assessment: If any of these statements accurately describe your organization, you may NOT be ready to conduct a campaign planning study. Your organization has not conducted an externally-based strategic plan. Your proposed goal is indistinguishable from annual or program goals. Your organization lacks a general case for support that differentiates your organization and positions […]

On Second Thought . . .  I first met Gayle in May 2009. She has been on the board of a public library in Pennsylvania for a long time. After a considerable amount of energy researching the community’s usage and strategic planning, the board decided the current library was far too small to effectively serve […]