A capital campaign is a strategic and comprehensive fundraising effort by nonprofit organizations to raise significant sums of money for a specific project or purpose.

Find our articles about capital campaign best practices below.

Suspect vs Prospect

Suspects vs Prospects

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  Today, we want to talk about two critical terms in major gift fundraising: suspects and prospects.  These terms are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings and huge implications for your fundraising efforts. Here’s…
An Easy Strategy for Discovering New Major Gifts Prospects

(Major Gifts #5) An Easy Strategy for Discovering New Major Gifts Prospects

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Today, we want to focus on one of the greatest challenges facing development shops everywhere: finding and discovering new prospects for major, principal, and capital gifts. We hear this everywhere:  Fundraisers tell us that…
Nonprofit Fundraising Trends

Nonprofit Fundraising Trends for 2023

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As fundraising consultants, we’re always keeping an eye on the latest nonprofit fundraising trends and developments. As we move into 2023, there are several key trends that can help your organization ride the waves of success and fundraising…
Three Big Challenges Facing Top Fundraisers Today

Three Big Challenges Facing Top Fundraisers Today

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Don’t hold yourself back. If you want to reach and exceed your major gift goal, then don’t neglect your important donor relationships!
What To Do When Your Major Gift Fundrasing Isn't Working?

What To Do When Your Major Gift Fundraising ISN’T Working

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Don’t hold yourself back. If you want to reach and exceed your major gift goal, then don’t neglect your important donor relationships!
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How to Jumpstart Your Capital Campaign and Achieve Early Success

There are three key steps you can take as early as possible that will help you engage the right leadership donors.
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What Mega Donors are Saying about Giving in Today’s Economy

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With the economic environment so murky these days, we usually ask these donors how they are feeling about giving in today’s economy. 

How is Post-COVID Fundraising Different?

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It was just over two years ago that our fundraising world seemed to come to a roaring halt with the onset of the pandemic.  No one was prepared.  The questions and SOS calls poured in. How do you raise major gifts without…

What Will Trigger Mega Donors to Unlock Early Capital Campaign Gifts?

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What Will Trigger Mega Donors to Unlock Early Capital Campaign Gifts? This is the question that many nonprofit leaders ask – over and over. For every capital campaign that we advise – this is often a huge question hanging in the…

Nonprofit Capital Campaigns: Five Secrets of Success

What does it really take for a successful nonprofit capital campaign? Many institutions are raising millions, hundreds of millions and even billions for major institutions like universities. All this funding seems to just like flow into…
Capital Campaign Feasibility Study Questions Revealed

Capital Campaign Feasibility Study Questions Revealed

Our Capital Campaign Feasibility Studies always have multiple goals. Of course, we can all agree that the #1 goal of a feasibility study is to research your gift potential for your pending capital campaign. But you also want your study…
How to Craft a Compelling, Powerful Vision Statement

How to Craft a Compelling, Powerful Vision Statement

Your Vision Statement is a marketing document that describes your organization’s vision for change in the world. It's a short version of your capital campaign case for support. Most importantly, a Vision Statement is your chance to sell others…
The Donor Teared Up. Then He Offered a Campaign Gift, Unasked.

The Donor Teared Up. Then He Offered a Campaign Gift, Unasked.

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Here’s a wonderful Major Gifts Intensive success story from one of our smart participants. Chris Cook, Executive Director of the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Omaha, said he really enjoyed practicing his new advanced…
Capital Campaign Pre-Planning Do This Before Hiring a Consulting Firm for Your Feasibility Study (2)

Capital Campaign Pre-Planning: What to do Before Hiring a Consultant

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How important is capital campaign pre-planning? We see many organizations that want to move forward quickly to launch a capital campaign. They are excited about their vision and are ready to dive straight away into a feasibility study. It's…
nonprofit fundraising best practices

What is Your Donor’s Emotional Connection?

Most of your donors are probably giving because they have an emotional connection with your organization’s work. Finding those connections is a key step in developing a happy relationship with the donor. Here’s an example: We…