A Capital Campaign Every 10 Years, Whether You Need One or Not

I believe that every organization should conduct a capital campaign every ten years.

Why?

Because a capital campaign moves your organization ahead in a great many ways — only one of which is fundraising. And if your organization isn’t moving ahead, chances are good that it’s falling behind.

Timeline: A Capital Campaign Every 10 Years

Ten years isn’t a random number. Here’s the way it lays out.

Year 1 — Greater Impact

Think ahead. And think big. Don’t just update your tired old 3-year plan. Actually take time to imagine more broadly about how your organization could make a bigger difference in the world.

• What would it take for your organization to make such a big difference?
• What are the problems facing your constituents that you don’t yet address?
• Or what would it take to serve more people and serve them better?

Year 2 — Pre-Campaign Planning

Use the energy of your visioning and planning process to do some early campaign planning. You’ll develop your early campaign objectives and goals. You’ll start to shape your case for support, and you’ll draw the most important donors into the process.

Years 3 and 4 — Your Capital Campaign

A capital campaign will take you 2 to 3 years from start to finish. Learn about the capital campaign timeline to understand the process.

Years 5, 6 and 7 — Collect Pledges and Start Your Project

Campaign gifts are often pledged over 3 years. While the money comes in, you can use it to carry out your plan for growth.

Years 8, 9 and 10 — Grow and Stabilize

After every growth spurt, you need time to stabilize at the new higher level. During this time, you can strengthen your relationships with your donors by showing them the impact their gifts have made.

Year 11 — Back to Year 1!

It’s time to start imagining the next big growth spurt and start planning again!

A Capital Campaign’s Trojan Horse Effect

Capital campaigns accomplish much more than money. The very idea that you could raise lots of money inspires you to think from abundance and to imagine how your organization might have more impact.

Remember — increased impact drives fundraising results. Not the other way around!

Bigger thinking provides all sorts of opportunities:

• You can invest in much needed infrastructure.
• You can build your development team and systems.
• You can weed out and strengthen your board.
• You can invest in training people to raise money.
• You can build stronger relationships with your community leaders.
• You can draw your major donors in close.

A capital campaign much more than a way to raise lots of money. It’s brim full of opportunities to transform your organization.

And if you do it right, the results will be amazing.

Start Now — Don’t Wait Until You NEED the Money

Capital campaigns work best when they grow from a big vision. Don’t wait until your roof is leaking or you are out of space. Start planning now by imagining how your organization might have more impact.

If you’d like some help in early planning for your campaign, sign up now for a free strategy session.