The Wheeler School prepares for a transformative campaign for Wheeler Farm

Discover how a Guided Feasibility Study with Capital Campaign Pro set the stage for new facilities that will enrich learning for generations.

The Wheeler School, founded in 1889, is a co-educational independent day school in Providence, Rhode Island. With campuses both in the city and at Wheeler Farm in Seekonk, Massachusetts, the school blends academic excellence with nature-based, hands-on learning. Wheeler is guided by a mission of learning, growth, and community, with new strategic investments ensuring that its students — beginning with its youngest learners — are supported in meaningful and innovative ways.

The Challenge:

Wheeler leadership was preparing for a new master plan at Wheeler Farm, with ambitious projects such as The Nest (its early childhood program) and an aquatic center. They wanted to assess donor readiness and identify the best ways to build philanthropic support for their $20MM goal.

The Solution:

With the support of Capital Campaign Pro, Wheeler School completed a Guided Feasibility Study led by Advisor Sarah Plimpton. Rachel Spaulding, Head of Advancement, explained how clearly she remembers each donor conversation and how those feasibility study conversations continue to shape her relationships with supporters:

“I was sad when the study was over. The structure was so potent. People were honest with us. We encouraged them to tell us what they really thought, and they did!”

Rachel was surprised by how many donors expressed gratitude for speaking directly with her rather than with an outside consultant:

“Your Guided Feasibility Study model is a brilliant disruption of the traditional feasibility study model. The old model will crumble as a result.”

Rachel Spaulding, Head of Advancement

The Impact:

By engaging directly with donors through the Guided Feasibility Study, Wheeler School not only gathered essential data for its upcoming campaign but also deepened trust within its community. The process gave Wheeler leadership a clear roadmap for its campaign and inspired confidence among its stakeholders.

The advisor’s guidance also shaped how Wheeler designed one of its most meaningful milestones:

“The advice we received from our advisor at Capital Campaign Pro — to match our groundbreaking event with the tone and purpose of the project — really paid off as we created an event that centered the early learners who will benefit from the building project for our nature-based preschool. If you’ve never ‘broken ground’ with a toy bulldozer in a sheet cake, we highly recommend it!”

Rachel Spaulding, Head of Advancement

With new projects underway at Wheeler Farm, the school is poised to expand its vision and ensure that nature-based, student-centered learning is an essential part of every Wheeler student’s education.