When you hear the words "capital campaign," do you think about the "pain" part of the process? Yes, a campaign can be disruptive to your organization and consume a lot of staff and volunteer time. But it can be a tremendous asset to your organization in two ways. First, you are able to achieve your goal of a new building, an expanded facility, an endowment for the future. Second, a campaign, when done right, will strengthen your organization overall.
This book will guide you every step of the way to assure a successful campaign, starting with getting the basic infrastructure in place to ensure that your campaign will be run efficiently and effectively. Then we move into the role of the board, staff, and volunteers in your campaign. We also answer the tricky, and sometimes debatable, question: Do we need to do a planning/feasibility study, or not? (The answers to this question might surprise you.)
We also talk about the importance of a campaign plan, how to develop one, how to be sure the plan gets implemented, and how to adjust it when necessary.
We will talk about the role of a consultant in the campaign. The consultant is not the magic bullet that will go out and raise the money for you. A campaign is a team effort, but most campaigns require some level of help from an outside consultant. We'll cover what level of help your organization needs from a consultant and, if you decide to engage a consultant, we'll show you how to find right one.
Also, one of the keys to a successful campaign is finding donors to support your campaign, and how to solicit gifts that meet the needs of the donors and the organization.
We will also talk about life after the campaign and how you can build a stronger organization moving forward.
Chapters
Chapter One: What is a Capital Campaign?
Chapter Two: Are You Ready for a Campaign?
Chapter Three: What Role Does You Board Play in a Campaign?
Chapter Four: Do You Need a Feasibility Study?
Chapter Five: The Role of the Campaign Cabinet and Committees
Chapter Six: Developing Your Campaign Plan
Chapter Seven: Finding and Soliciting Donors
Chapter Eight: What Happens When Things Go Wrong
Chapter Nine: Bringing It All Together
Author Biography:
Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE is one of approximately one hundred professionals worldwide to hold the Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive designation. Linda is the author of ten nonfiction books, a contributing author, coeditor, or coauthor of eighteen others. She has also written five books in the spiritual and fiction realms. Linda has more than thirty years in the development field. She worked for a university and a museum before starting her consulting firm. In her twenty-five years as a philanthropic consultant, Linda has managed capital campaigns that have raised more than $50 million. She has helped hundreds of nonprofit organizations achieve their development goals. Linda has trained more than forty thousand development professionals in most of the fifty states of the United States as well as Canada, Mexico, Egypt, and Bermuda. Linda has served on the Association of Fundraising Philanthropy (AFP) Foundation for Philanthropy Board and the Professional Advancement Division for AFP. She is a past president of the Eastern Pennsylvania and Sierra (Nevada) AFP chapters. She received the Outstanding Fundraiser of the Year award from the Eastern Pennsylvania, Las Vegas, and Sierra (Nevada) chapters of AFP, was honored with the Barbara Marion Award for Outstanding Service to AFP and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Las Vegas AFP chapter. Linda is a graduate of Alvernia University with majors in banking and finance as well as theology/philosophy, and a minor in communications. As a graduate of AFP's Faculty Training Academy, she is a Master Teacher. Joanne Oppelt, MHA is the principal of Joanne Oppelt Consulting, LLC. She is a seasoned rainmaker with a distinguished track record of success. During her twenty-five-plus years working in the nonprofit arena, she built or rebuilt successful fundraising departments at every stop, helping her organizations grow capacity and more effectively fulfill their missions. She has held positions from grantwriter to executive director at the nonprofits Community Access Unlimited, Caring Contact: A Listening Community, Family to Family Network of New Jersey, Christian Healthcare Center, March of Dimes Central New Jersey, Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey, and Maternal and Family Health Services. Her extensive background in a variety of work roles and organizations enables her to understand the realities and challenges nonprofit practitioners face-both internally and externally. Her success at every stop positions her to help any nonprofit, whether through her books or consulting practice, turn around its struggling fundraising operations. Joanne is the author of four books and coauthor of six. She has taught at Kean University as an Adjunct Professor in its graduate program. She is also a highly sought-after speaker and presenter. Joanne holds a master's degree in health administration from Wilkes University, where she graduated with distinction. Her bachelor's degree is in education, with a minor in psychology.
