Summer Institute for Alumni Relations Pre-Institute Sessions-Clarke_Campaigns 101_SIEFR

Clarke_Campaigns 101_SIEFR_2023 Final

Pdf Summary

A campaign is an intensive fundraising effort designed to raise a specific amount of money for institutional priorities within a defined time period. It relies on volunteer structures and has stated goals, both institutional, programmatic, and financial. There are various types of campaigns, including capital campaigns, endowment campaigns, hybrid campaigns, reunion campaigns, annual giving campaigns, and comprehensive campaigns. <br /><br />Internal reasons to do campaigns include creating urgency, enhancing the ability to raise private support, achieving higher year-to-year fundraising levels, advancing aspirations and goals, providing focus and promoting greater alignment, telling stories to a broader audience, improving public image, and developing the next generation of leaders. <br /><br />External reasons to do campaigns include rejuvenating people and aligning visions, building a stronger culture of philanthropy and confidence, increasing meaningful volunteer engagement, enhancing donor engagement, diversifying volunteer and donor pools, engaging new audiences, promoting institutional pride, and harnessing the power of transformation. <br /><br />Successful campaigns are built upon four pillars: a solid plan and timeline, a strong case statement and branding, effective prospect identification and gift table, and engaged leadership and volunteer engagement. <br /><br />Planning tools include capacity analysis, feasibility studies, consultation events, and goal setting. The case statement should answer questions such as why the campaign is happening, why individuals should support it, why now is the right time, and what difference the gifts will make. <br /><br />The gift table is crucial in determining the amount and number of gifts needed to achieve the campaign goal. Top gifts play a significant role in the campaign, and involving them in the case development and leadership structure is important. <br /><br />Volunteers have various roles in a campaign, including being donors, fundraisers, advocates, and advisors. <br /><br />Campaign planning and execution should align with institutional culture, values, and goals. Retained counsel can be valuable, and managing expectations is crucial. The CASE network can provide support and guidance throughout the campaign process. <br /><br />Planning is essential and involves academic and strategic planning, communications planning, capacity analysis, feasibility studies, consultation processes, timeline development, and volunteer structure establishment. <br /><br />The timeline of a campaign typically includes a planning/quiet phase, a public phase, and a campaign celebration. Feasibility studies, consultation events, and goal setting are important steps in the planning process.

Keywords

campaign

fundraising

institutional priorities

volunteer structures

capital campaigns

endowment campaigns

hybrid campaigns

reunion campaigns

annual giving campaigns

comprehensive campaigns