It’s a valid question. As nonprofit leaders, you exist to serve your constituents and make sure every donor dollar is put to its highest and best use.
Let’s look at the question in a different way. Consider the new building or facility you are planning to construct. Would you build it without hiring an architect to design the plans?
Capital campaigns—and the campaign study that proceeds it—are specialized projects. To be successful, they are best led by a specialist who brings a specific skill set and the experience that only comes from a history of successful projects.
We’ve rarely seen success from a campaign that was led in-house. It’s not because the advancement or development staff is not highly skilled at fundraising or has even been part of a campaign before. A campaign managed in-house is hamstrung by three primary detractors: a lack of time, a lack of accountability, and a lack of experience. Good campaign counsel will eliminate all of these deficiencies.
Some of the primary roadblocks we see organizations face during a capital campaign include:
Most organizations only conduct a capital campaign every 10 to 15 years, so it’s important to set yourself up for success. Making the decision to hire outside counsel—and then selecting the right consultant or firm—can make or break your campaign.
The factors below highlight the value of outside campaign counsel.
As a campaign veteran, your counsel is keenly aware of how much your campaign’s direction (and momentum) will be shaped by early decisions. A campaign can drag on or fizzle out if it is not directed by strong, competent leaders. This depth of experience is well worth the investment and will ultimately save your resources by keeping your campaign on track.
When you take on campaign fundraising, your team will still have many other obligations and demands on their time; consultants only have your campaign. Fundraising experts stay focused on your campaign goals even when you have to think about other things.
A good consultant will also develop your staff by sharing best practices gleaned over years of experience. By sharing this knowledge, your organization’s culture of philanthropy will grow through an engaged volunteer and donor base. They can also assist staff in strengthening the infrastructure and mechanisms required to continue and improve the success of ongoing philanthropic initiatives long after the campaign has concluded.
A well-executed campaign that properly engages donors and volunteers will raise more money. It will be completed in a timely manner and reach critical milestones. It will create energy and a reason for donors to stretch in their giving.
To learn more about how you can get the kind of expertise you need for your campaign, give us a call or apply for a free strategy session.
Rachel Santos is Marketing Manager for the Winkler Group, a national capital campaign and strategic planning firm headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina. Rachel connects nonprofit partners with resources they can use to impact their communities—providing industry insights, research, and strategy so that they can expand their reach in carrying out their missions and making a difference.
The generous will prosper: those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
(Proverbs 11:25)