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Money is a one of the most difficult subjects to talk openly about, and if a capital campaign is only about money then it will fail. Our experience has revealed that only about 10% of the energy, time and effort committed to capital campaigns concerns money. Your school is a community and at heart is about relationships. How people perceive themselves in their relationship to the school will determine their response to an invitation to participate in a campaign. Drawing people together in community around the “Vision” for the school, and providing opportunity for people to see their own hopes and dreams fulfilled in the Vision for the future of the school is a key determinate of financial support for a capital campaign.
ISPG's Services
ISPG has raised millions of dollars for school projects and can lead your school through a process of discovery that will enable you to determine how much funding may be available for your school's future initiatives such as:
- Funding property purchases
- Construction of new facilities
- Expansions or amalgamations
- Insuring the long term capital repair and replacement of buildings and equipment
- Providing funds for curriculum expansion and new programs
There are three primary stages of a Capital Campaign. We can lead your school through the initial investigation stage (Audit Report), on to the development stage (Planning Study) and finally the collection stage (Capital Campaign) depending on your budget, where your school is in its current process, or how prepared your community is.
1. The Audit Report
This is a comprehensive overview of your school's activities, advancement, and development progress. We provide a full Audit Report and recommendations inclusive of an evaluation of the following areas:
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The articulation and effectiveness of the case for support
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Fundraising progress over the last five years
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A review of current operating goals and priorities for development
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An examination of the annual giving participation level in terms of both percentage and overall dollars
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A review of the depth and breadth of local, community and provincial corporate and foundation support, solicitation progress in those areas, and the utilization of board relationships and volunteer-based activities with these corporations and foundations
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An examination of the specific corporate and foundation relations programs—identification, analysis, research, cultivation and solicitation of gift prospects; management and tracking mechanisms employed with these programs
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Identification of the strengths and weaknesses of board members and other top leadership
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An examination of the institutional support groups, if any—the strength of various fundraising boards, the quality of the program(s), their relationship(s) to the institution
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A review of the current level of involvement on the part of the Head of School and the board in advancement activities—in particular, their current level and expertise in solicitation activities
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A review of the involvement and understanding of institutional administrators with regard to the development program and public relations, the needs determination process, and a designation of special gift opportunities and major gifts-targeted solicitation
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An examination of the formal relationship and level of cooperation of the development program with other components of the institution
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A review of research, records, and system support functions
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A review of the planned giving program and how it is incorporated into the development program—number of mailings, request procedures, record keeping, planned gift proposals presented to gift prospects
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An examination of the donor relations program—acknowledgment strategies, cultivation events, gift clubs and donor recognition activities
The Audit Report contains discussion around “next steps”, what these may mean for the school and what the required resources would be if the Board decides to proceed forward.
2. The Planning Study
Attitude, perception, mood of supporters and their relationship to the school are intangibles that will impact the success of a campaign. A planning study will provide insights into the those critical intangibles that need to be addressed prior to embarking on and during the demanding journey of a capital campaign. Campaign preparations based on the Planning Study findings will determine if a strong campaign start is achieved and if a vibrant campaign race to the finish is sustained.
A Planning Study will provide insights and answers to the following key issues:
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Who are the finest leaders to lead a campaign?
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To what degree does the constituent base support the Vision for the future of the school?
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Does the proposed project match the priorities of the support base?
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How realistic is the financial target, and what potential is there to achieve the amount?
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How willing are people to support the proposed capital campaign?
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What priority do people have for giving to this project?
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What potential leadership gifts are available for the campaign?
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Are there unresolved issues that could impact campaign success?
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What are the key strengths that that the school should emphasize during a campaign?
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What are the key constituency groups, and what messages are important to communicate to each?
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What advice, insights and feedback would school families want to share with Leadership?
Investment in a Planning Study is critical to preparing well for your campaign and in conducting the course of daily campaign activity. Leadership can best direct the campaign through careful consideration of the report findings. As professional campaign counsel who has conducted many capital campaigns we fervently endorse the benefits of a Planning Study in assisting leaders to make the most informed decisions for their school as they consider embarking on the emotional journey of a campaign.
3. The Execution Phase
The course of the campaign can now be set, the direction clear, the goals identified. ISPG will now guide you through the process of:
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Recognizing and recruiting a leadership team
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Developing a feasible working plan based on the findings of the Study
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Establishing a Development or Campaign Office
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Recruiting, educating and inspiring a dynamic team of volunteers
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Crafting and articulating the final “Case for Support” along with other strategic communications and marketing materials
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Conducting further research into current constituencies and possible “Gifts in Kind” for building projects
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Campaign Announcements
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Executing marketing & awareness strategy
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Cultivation of events conducted to begin to secure commitments of Leadership Gifts
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